Sheffield United FC is a professional football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The club competes currently in the EFL Championship, English football’s second-tier competition, after relegation from the Premier League in 2023/24. The club are nicknamed the Blades due to the history of cutlery production in Sheffield. The club have played at Bramall Lane since their formation in 1889 and has red and white striped shirts for most of their existence. The club enjoys a fierce rivalry with city rivals Sheffield Wednesday, with whom they contest the Steel City derby.
Sheffield United Updates
Sheffield United FC are currently competing in the 2023-24 Championship season following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. This season the club have played 16 matches in the Championship, winning 6, losing 1 and drawing 3, giving them 19 points. They should have 21 points but received a two-point deduction for defaulted transfer payments. The club’s form and position have varied throughout the season, they are currently ranked 3rd out of the 24 teams in the Championship, with 13 matches played, 10 goal difference and 25 points in total.
To keep up to date with news about Sheffield United throughout the season check out The Real Efl page.
Sheffield United FC Transfer News and Rumours
Sheffield United made significant changes to their squad during the 2024 summer transfer window, including 7 permanent deals and 3 loans. They brought in multiple new players, including Calum O’Hare, who joined on a free transfer and is expected to bring energy and creativity to the team’s attacking midfield area. However, there are no confirmed reports of Michael Cooper joining from Plymouth, but if so, he is likely to strengthen an area of weakness for the Blades and expected to be the Sheffield United No 1 for the foreseeable future.
In terms of departures, 14 players were either sold or released by the club with John Egan, Oli McBurnie, Jayden Bogle and Cameron Archer the highest profile or most expensive to leave. For detailed insights on these transfers, you can check the Sheffield United Transfermarkt page.
Sheffield United Signings
Below is a list of all the incoming transfers made by the club this summer. Michael Cooper will hopefully solve the problem area of goalkeeper while Harry Souttar and Alfie Gilchrist will add depth to their defence. Calum O Hare should bring energy to United’s midfield and add to the quality in that area, while on loan Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is an exciting addition in the wide areas for the club.
| Player | Age | Nationality | Left | Fee | Contract Duration |
| Jamie Shackleton | 25 | England | Leeds United EFL Championship | Free | 3 years |
| Sam McCallum | 22 | England | Norwich City EFL Championship | Free | 4 years |
| Kiefer Moore | 32 | Wales | Bournemouth Premier League | Undisclosed fee | 3 years |
| Callum O’ Hare | 26 | England | Coventry City EFL Championship | Free | 4 years |
| Harrison Burrows | 22 | England | Peterborough United EFL League One | Undisclosed | 4 years |
| Tyrese Campbell | 24 | England | Stoke City EFL Championship | Free | 3 years |
| Michael Cooper | 25 | England | Plymouth Argyle EFL Championship | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Alfie Gilchrist | 20 | England | Chelsea Premier League | Loan | 1 year |
| Jesurun Rak-Sakyi | 21 | England | Crystal Palace Premier League | Loan | 1 year |
| Harry Souttar | 26 | Australia | Leicester City Premier League | Loan | 1 year |
Sheffield United FC Key Matches of the season
Sheffield United FC is expected to be near the top of the Championship table, competing fiercely for promotion this season, so their games against the other highly touted teams in the League should be exciting for the Blades fans this season.
Among the standout fixtures is the highly anticipated clash against city rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby, set for 10 November 2024. This match marks their first league meeting since the 2018/19 season and promises to be a thrilling showdown for supporters of both clubs.
| Date | Match |
| 18 October 2024 | Leeds 2-0 Sheffield United (played) |
| 10 November 2024 | Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday |
| 29 November 2024 | Sheffield United vs Sunderland |
| 8 December 2024 | West Brom vs Sheffield United |
| 26 December 2024 | Sheffield United vs Burnley |
| 01 January 2025 | Sunderland vs Sheffield United |
| 12 February 2025 | Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough |
| 22 February 2025 | Sheffield United vs Leeds United |
| 15 March 2025 | Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United |
| 21 April 2025 | Burnley vs Sheffield United |
With the team expected to be challenging for promotion to the Premier League the games against the likes of Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland could be huge in determining if they finish in the Top 2.
To find out all of Sheffield United fixtures click on the link below:
https://www.scoreaxis.com/team/sheffield-united/EMgdCi
Sheffield United Key Achievements
The club enjoyed its most successful era between 1899 and 1925 when they were a constant presence at the top end of the First Division table as well as being FA Cup winners 4 times. No other major trophy success has graced the club, but they have won lower league titles and promotions.
Below we will guide you through some Sheffield United’s major achievements.
- First Division Champions 1897/98
- FA Cup Winners in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925
- Second Division Champions 1952/53
- Promotion to the Top Tier on eight occasions – 1892/93, 1938/39, 1960/61, 1970/71, 1989/90, 2005/06, 2018/19 and 2022/23.
- League One Champions 2016/17
Sheffield United FC Current Squad
A summer of upheaval led to a large turnover in the playing staff at Sheffield United this season. Below we will look at the different areas of the pitch and how well stocked they are for a promotion tilt.
Sheffield United Attackers
Kieffer Moore has been brought in to score the goals to take them back up, with the distribution to him expected to be provided by the likes of loan signing Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. Rhian Brewster if he can stay fit will provide depth in the forward line but additions may need to be made in January to help in the forward line.
Sheffield United Midfielders
The Blades are stacked with quality in the midfield area of the pitch with Gus Hamer Vini Souza Ollie Arblaster and Callum O Hare all quality options at this level for Chris Wilder. Sheffield United should be more than capable of dominating the midfield area against most opposition with those choices available.
Sheffield United Defenders
Sheffield United have lost a raft of defenders this summer but managed to hang on to Anel Ahmedhodzic, which could be huge for them. Harry Souttar, Alfie Gilchrist and Harrison Burrows have been brought in as Wilder sets up with a back four.
Sheffield United Goal Keepers
The addition of Plymouth keeper Michae Cooper looks to be good business by Sheffield United as the club needed a keeper they could build their defence around ahead of the new Championship season. He should be a consistent performer for the club and could make that extra bit of difference come the end of the season.
Sheffield United Managing and Coaching Staff
The current Head Coach of Sheffield United is Chris Wilder.
Wilder returned to the club in December 2023 but could not save the club from relegation to the Championship. He first managed the club from 2016 until March 2021 leading the club to promotions from League One up to the Premier League.
His first spell at the club saw the team become synonymous with a 3-5-2 formation that had innovation in the way Wilder used his centre backs to overlap when the team was attacking. He left in 2021 and had spells in charge of Middlesbrough and Watford but after a poor start to their 2023/24 Premier League season Wilder was brought back to try and rebuild the club much like he did in 2016.
Wilder is assisted by long term assistants Alan Knill and Matt Prestridge who have worked with the manager as far back as their time at Northampton Town in 2014. Other members of staff include former player Jack Lester and first team coach Michael Collins.
Sheffield United Former Managers & Key Coaches
Only five managers have ever lifted silverware with Sheffield United. JB Wostinholm led the club to the First Division title in 1897/98, John Nicholson won the FA Cup four times during his time in charge. Reg Freeman brought the club to the Second Division title in 1952/53, while Ian Porterfield won the Fourth Division in 1980/81, and Chris Wilder took the club to the League One Championship in 2016/17.
Alongside these managers that have won trophy’s during their spells in charge there have been managers that have left their mark on the club in other ways. Whether it was creating an exciting young team or leading the team to promotion the following managers have done all that to earn their place amongst the best mangers to have led Sheffield United
John Nicholson 1899 – 1932
- Took over the club in1899 and led them until he died in 1932.
- Won the FA Cup four times in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925.
- Was officially the Club Secretary but ran the club on a day-to-day basis.
Dave Bassett 1988 – 1995
- Took over the club in 1988 and managed them 394 times until he left in 1995.
- Led the club to back-to-back promotions to the First Division in 1988/89 and 1989/90.
- Finished ninth in the 1991/92 season to earn a place in the first ever Premier League.
Jon Harris 1959 – 1968, 1969 – 1973
- Took over in April 1959 and in his first full season in charge led the club to a fourth-place finish.
- Led an inconsistent and underperforming team to promotion to the First Division in 1961.
- Built a team featuring local talent but faced financial issues leading to the sale of key players.
Neil Warnock 1999 – 2007
- Appointed manager in December 1999.
- Led the club to Premier League promotion in 2005/06.
- In 2002/03 brought the team to the semi-finals of both the League Cup and the FA Cup.
Chris Wilder 2016 – 2021, December 2023 – Present
- Became manager in May 2016 and stayed until March 2021.
- Led the club to the League One Championship in 2016/17.
- Achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2018/19, staying up in their first season. before leaving in March of their second season.
Sheffield United Legends
Sheffield United boast a rich history filled with legendary who have left their mark on the club and its fans. Below we look at some of those players:
Harry Johnson 1916 – 1931
- Played for Sheffield United between 1916 and 1931.
- Scored a club-record 201 goals.
- His father and brother were also players for the club.
Joe Shaw 1945 – 1966
- Accumulated over 700 appearances for the Blades.
- Distinguished as a centre-half and club leader in the 1950s.
- Has a statue at Bramall Lane in his honor.
Alan Hodgkinson 1954 – 1971
- Signed in 1954, making 675 appearances.
- Renowned as one of the best goalkeepers in the club’s history.
- Represented England in 5 matches.
Len Badger 1963 – 1976
- Full back who played 541 times for the club.
- Known for his dynamic runs and reliable defense.
- Left for Chesterfield in 1976.
Tony Currie 1968 – 1976
- Joined from Watford in 1968, playing 313 matches until 1976.
- Voted the club’s best-ever player during the 125-year anniversary in 2014.
- Honoured with a stand named after him in 2018.
Brian Deane 1988 – 1993, 1997-98, 2005 – 2006
- First joined the club in 1988.
- Notably scored the first goal of the Premier League in 1992.
- He totalled 119 goals in 275 matches.
Phil Jagielka 2000 – 2007, 2019 – 2021
- Debuted in 2000, playing 254 games in his first stint.
- Moved to Everton in 2007 for £4 million.
- Returned in 2019/20, adding 22 more appearances.
Billy Sharp 2004 – 2005, 2007 – 2009, 2015 – 2023
- First appeared during the 2004/05 season, later moving to Scunthorpe United.
- Returned in 2015, scoring 109 goals in 282 games.
- Played a total of 377 matches, scoring 129 goals.
- Contributed to the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2019.
Sheffield United Team Metrics and Performance
The 2024/2 season will be Sheffield United’s first season back in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League in 2023/24.
During that 2023/24 season the club performed woefully finishing 20th with just 16 points. They only scored 35 goals during the season and conceded 104 over 38 games, a record in the Premier League They won only 3 of their matches, drawing 7 and losing 28.
During the 2022/23 season the club was promoted to the Premier League from the championship by finishing 2nd in the table behind winners Burnley. They won 28 of their 46 Championship matches that season, drew 7 and lost 11.
In the 2021/22 season the club was like this season trying to bounce back from relegation from the Premier League. They finished 5th that season qualifying for the playoffs. They won 21 of their 46 League games, drew 12 and lost 13. They were beaten on penalties in the playoffs by Nottingham Forest.
With the club back in the Championship yet again it’s clear that promotion straight back up is the aim for the team and their manager Chris Wilder. Their performances in the Championship recently suggest that at this level, they are one of the best clubs in the division and should expect to be among the league leaders once more this season. This will significantly influence Sheffield United’s ratings as fans look to assess their performance.
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Sheffield United Pitch and Amenities
The club play their home games at Bramall Lane, their home since their creation in 1889. The ground has a capacity of 32,050 and is designed in the old-style ‘English style’ of football stadia. The round has four stands named:
- The Tony Currie Stand
- The Kop Stand
- Bramall Lane Stand
- John Street Stand
The club erected two statues adjacent to the Tony Currie stand in 2010, one of record appearance holder Joe Shaw and the other of former chairman Derek Dooley.
Sheffield United Fan Base and Support
The club derives much of its support from the locality around Sheffield and its surrounding areas but also has fan representation groups from further afield in Ireland, the Netherlands America and Australia.
The club set up a Supporter Liaison Officer in 2012 to further strengthen the relationship between the club and the fans around the world. They have set up supporter forums, which has enabled the fans to be heard by club officials.
The official supporters club can all be found via the Worldwide Blades page that lists the names and contact details of supporter groups. For discussions and insights from fans, you can also visit the Sheffield United FC forum at https://www.sufc.co.uk/fans/worldwide-blades/.
Sheffield United Rivalries and Notable Matches
The club has a fierce rivalry with city rivals Sheffield Wednesday. The two sides first met 1880 and this season with both sides in the EFL Championship the Steel City derby will return to League competition for the first time since 2019. Those fixtures are due to take place on November 10th at Bramall Lane and March 15th at Hillsborough.
In total the two sides have met 131 in competitive fixtures with united winning 46 and Wednesday winning 42.
Some of the most famous matches between the sides include:
- September 8th, 1951 – Second Division: Sheffield United 7 – 3 Sheffield Wednesday
- December 26th, 1979 – Third Division: Sheffield Wednesday 4 – 0 Sheffield United
- April 3rd, 1993 – FA Cup Semi-Final: Sheffield Wednesday 2 – 1 Sheffield United AET
- September 24th, 2017 – Championship: Sheffield Wednesday 2 – 4 Sheffield United
Sheffield United Facts
| Field | Details |
| Club Name | Sheffield United |
| Founded | 1889 |
| Home Stadium | Bramall Lane |
| Location | Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England |
| Website | https://www.sufc.co.uk/ |
| League | EFL Championship |
| Social media | https://x.com/SheffieldUnited |
Sheffield United History
The club was formed by members of the Sheffield Cricket Club in 1889 and in doing so they were among the first English sports teams to use the word United in their name. Their nickname ‘The Blades’ is a reference to Sheffield’s status as a major producer of cutlery in the UK.
Undoubtedly the club’s heyday was the 30-year period between 1895 and 1925. During this time, they were champions of England in 1898 and runners-up in 1896 and 1900. The club also won the FA Cup four times during this period, the last one coming in 1925. The club have not won a top-level trophy since that Cup win in 1925, with their only successes coming in lower leagues and in achieving promotions.
Some of the worst days for the club were between 1975 and 1981. After finishing 6th in the 1974-75 First Division, the club then suffered relegation the following year and by 1981 had slipped to the Fourth Division. They yo-yoed between divisions after that until new manager Dave Bassett arrived and heralded in one of the club’s best eras. Successive promotions brought the club back to the First Division surviving in the top tier for four seasons. During this period, they were founder members of English Football’s new Premier League before being relegated from it in 1994.
They would remain outside the topflight until they won promotion back to the Premier League in 2005/2006 under Neil Warnock. Two more promotions would follow in 2018/19 and 2022/23 with the longest time spent in the Premier League two seasons between 2018 and 2020.
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Sheffield United Outlook and Forecast
With the squad of players that the club has at its disposal this season Sheffield United should be able to challenge for an automatic promotion place at the end of the season. They have recruited vey shrewdly in the transfer market and have manged to hold onto several key assets that will help them in their journey back to the Premier League.
The club also have a manager who knows the club very well indeed having been both a player and a manager in the past. Chris Wilder returned to the club in December 2023 for a second spell in charge. His first spell was between May 2016 and March 2021. Wilder has had success in the past with the club leading them to promotion to the Premier League in 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions on Sheffield United
is Sheffield FC the oldest football club in the world?
No, Notts County are the oldest club in England with their foundation listed as 1862. Sheffield United were formed in 1889.
Have Sheffield United ever won anything?
Yes, the club have been successful in the past with 4 FA Cup wins to their name in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925. The club also won the First Division in 1898.
What was the old name for Sheffield United?
Sheffield United have always been known as Sheffield United from when they were formed in 1889. In fact, they were the first English sports team to use United in their team’s name.
How much is Sheffield United FC Worth?
The last time that rumours of a takeover of Sheffield United were in the media, the club was reportedly being offered to potential buyers at approximately £170 million.
Is Sheffield United a big club?
In the Championship Sheffield United are viewed as a big club and title contenders whenever they are in the Division.
Where to watch Sheffield United?
To watch the club live you will have to either attend a game at Bramall Lane or travel to one of the club’s away matches.