Experienced midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is on trial with Championship outfit Hull City, according to Hull Live.
Shelvey reportedly played in a pre-season friendly against League One side Lincoln City to boost his fitness levels, but it remains uncertain whether or not the Tigers will offer him a contract.
The 33-year-old is a free agent after leaving Burnley after just six months with the club, where he made four appearances in all competitions.
Hull City Transfer Embargo
Hull City have been given a three-window transfer embargo by the EFL for failing to make payments within a 30-day period.
The Tigers have reportedly missed more than 30 days of payments to football creditors in the last year, meaning they are banned from buying players until January 2027. However, the side can still sign free agents and loan signings that do not require a fee at any stage.
Experienced midfielder Shelvey falls under the free agent category after departing Turf Moor. The club have also been linked with free agent Oli McBurnie, who is a free agent after leaving Spanish side Las Palmas.
A three-window embargo comes as a blow to new manager Sergej Jakirovic, who will be looking to prepare his squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. There’s no denying Hull owner Acun Ilicali has ambitions of getting the club back to the Premier League, hence the heavy spending in recent years, however, the club will now face the obstacle of not being able to buy any players.
Gustavo Puerta, Reda Laalaoui, Dillion Phillips, and Semi Ajayi are the four players who have already made a move to the MKM Stadium.
Jonjo Shelvey’s Career So Far
The ever-present Shelvey started his career at the likes of Arsenal, West Ham United and Charlton Athletic, before joining Liverpool for a seven-figure fee in 2010.
Whilst at Anfield, he experienced a loan spell at Blackpool, before moving to Wales to join Swansea City in 2013. After three years in Wales, he moved North East, joining Newcastle United, where he spent the majority of his career, making over 200 appearances in seven years.
An unsuccessful move to Nottingham Forest followed, where he didn’t make a single appearance in his nine-month stint, before opting for a move to Turkey.
Shelvey spent two years playing in Turkey before deciding to move back to England in January. Despite winning Premier League promotion with the Clarets, the 33-year-old didn’t make as much of an impact as he would’ve liked, playing twice in the Championship and twice in the FA Cup.
Although there is uncertainty about whether or not Hull are going to offer the midfielder a contract, the fact that he’s building fitness suggests he wants to continue his career in football in England.
Writer’s View
There’s no doubt the transfer embargo is a big blow for Hull’s promotion hopes, with the side now only limited to signing players for free. Whilst the embargo has been appealed by the club, after barely surviving in the Championship last season, this season could be tough for the Tigers.
Although Shelvey won’t be the player he once was, he is still a good, experienced option in the midfield.
