Sheffield Wednesday are in talks to sign Bristol City goalkeeper Joe Lumley on an emergency loan ahead of their clash with Middlesbrough after a fresh setback between the posts.
The Owls’ problems deepened at the weekend when Ethan Horvath was sent off in stoppage time, leaving Henrik Pedersen without a senior goalkeeper for Wednesday night’s Championship fixture.
What Happened and Why It Matters
Horvath, brought in on an emergency loan following an injury to regular number 1 Pierce Charles, was dismissed in the 97th minute of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic and is now suspended. With both first-choice options unavailable, Wednesday faced the prospect of handing a debut to 18-year-old Wales youth international Logan Stretch, who has never featured at senior level.
To avoid that scenario, the club have approached Bristol City about a short-term deal for Lumley, who joined the Robins on a free transfer in the summer but has played only in the League Cup this season. The move requires EFL approval, though reports suggest the request will be sanctioned given the club’s limited options.
Sheffield Wednesday are in talks to sign Bristol City goalkeeper Joe Lumley on an emergency loan.
The EFL have approved the deal after Ethan Horvath was sent off on Saturday.
(Via: @domhowson)
A season so strange they’re on their second emergency goalkeeper of the season 🫠 pic.twitter.com/EZTNOt89eg
— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) October 20, 2025
If completed, the switch would reunite Lumley with Middlesbrough, his former side, just 2 years after his spell at the Riverside. The 30-year-old was a regular in his first season with Boro before joining Reading on loan, and he could now line up against his old club in a game broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The crisis in goal comes as Wednesday’s wider off-field struggles continue to mount. Already under 5 separate EFL embargoes and reportedly owing £1m to HMRC, the club are facing a winding-up petition. The financial situation has led to staff departures, including set-piece coach Andy Parslow and long-serving physio Antonio Quintela, who has joined Nottingham Forest.
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
Supporters have responded with anger and frustration, planning a boycott of the televised fixture to protest against owner Dejphon Chansiri. The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust called the game “a prime opportunity to communicate to Chansiri via national media that we will not continue to fund our own decline.”
Pedersen, who took over in the summer, continues to talk up the players’ spirit but admits performances must improve. After dropping to the bottom of the Championship, the Dane said his side must show courage from the outset rather than reacting once games have slipped away.
“We know it is a difficult situation,” said Pedersen. “How the boys are working, how they played in the second half, it gives us confidence and courage that we can get points.
“We can compete with many teams in the Championship, but we need to be more brave from the first to the last minute, not only when we are 2-0 down.”
What were Reading thinking signing Joe Lumley pic.twitter.com/AGXwY9lrSj
— luke (@louorns) August 13, 2022
The looming arrival of Lumley could at least stabilise 1 department, offering a short-term solution during a period of intense scrutiny. His experience in the division provides immediate relief for Pedersen, who has been forced to juggle injuries, suspensions, and off-field turbulence.
For a fan base weary of broken promises and public uncertainty, the goalkeeper saga has become a microcosm of the wider crisis. Wednesday’s ability to secure EFL approval and get Lumley registered in time could be vital, not just to avoid embarrassment against Middlesbrough, but to steady morale in a season already defined by chaos.
All eyes will now be on Hillsborough, on the pitch for who stands in goal, and off it for whether the club can find any stability amid growing financial and supporter unrest.
