New Darren Moore, Port Vale update will shock some at Sheffield Wednesday: View | OneFootball

Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder George Byers made a shock move to League Two side Port Vale this week.

Highlights

It has been a busy start to the transfer window for Sheffield Wednesday after they secured survival in the Championship.

The Owls achieved safety last season following a remarkable turnaround under Danny Rohl, and they received a huge boost as the German signed a new long-term contract at the club in May.

Rohl has wasted no time in getting to work on rebuilding his squad, and Wednesday have made eight new signings so far this summer, with James Beadle, Ben Hamer, Max Lowe, Yan Valery, Svante Ingelsson, Olaf Kobacki, Jamal Lowe and Charlie McNeill arriving at Hillsborough.

Liam Palmer, Dominic Iorfa, Barry Bannan and Josh Windass have all signed new contracts, but Cameron Dawson and Will Vaulks have departed after rejecting the offer of an extension, while Ciaran Brennan, Reece James, George Byers, Tyreeq Bakinson, Juan Delgado and Lee Gregory have been released.

George Byers' Sheffield Wednesday exit

Many of those who departed Hillsborough this summer were great servants for the club, but midfielder Byers is one player that Wednesday supporters will be particularly disappointed to see move on.

Byers established himself as a firm fan favourite after joining the Owls from Swansea City in the summer of 2021, and he played a key role in their promotion from League One in the 2022-23 season.

However, Byers fell out of favour in the Championship, and after spending the second half of last season on loan at Blackpool, he was not offered a new deal by Wednesday this summer.

Byers surely attracted significant League One interest following his release, but many Owls supporters were shocked this week when he decided to join League Two side Port Vale, where he will reunite with his former Wednesday manager Darren Moore.

Port Vale switch a huge surprise for Sheffield Wednesday supporters

According to The Star, Blackpool were keen to re-sign Byers this summer after his strong loan spell at Bloomfield Road, while Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Rotherham United, Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers and Oxford United were also said to be keeping tabs on him.

Many of those sides are likely to be among the promotion front-runners in League One next season, while Oxford could potentially have offered Byers another chance in the Championship, so it is a big surprise to see him drop down to League Two with Vale.

Given the starring role Byers played in their promotion, many Wednesday supporters were hopeful that he would be able to thrive in the Championship, and while it did not work out that way, there is no doubt that he is a quality performer in League One, as he proved during his loan at Blackpool last season.

Byers is arguably too good for League Two, and the widespread shock at his move to Vale Park underlines just how much of a coup it is for the Valiants to convince him to join the club.

Moore was in charge of Wednesday when Byers arrived at Hillsborough, and the midfielder enjoyed the best period of his career under his guidance. So, in some ways, it is understandable that he was keen to reunite with his former manager.

Owls supporters know exactly what Moore is capable of in the transfer market, and his outstanding recruitment was a crucial factor in the club's promotion from League One.

Moore's pulling power is clear to see once again this summer, and he confirmed that Byers had "strong interest at levels above League Two", but he stated that the midfielder has "quickly bought into the wider project that is ongoing here at Vale Park and what we are trying to build".

Byers is not the only player to be attracted by Moore's project, with Jayden Stockley, Ben Amos, Ryan Croasdale, Ronan Curtis, Connor Hall, Sam Hall and Lorent Tolaj also joining the Valiants this summer, but he is certainly the biggest name, and it is a huge statement of intent from the club.

The 28-year-old is held in the highest regard by Wednesday supporters, and while there is a sense of disbelief that he will be playing in League Two next season, they will wish him well as he looks to achieve promotion with Vale.