Ranking all of Chris Wilder’s January signings ever | OneFootball

Since January 2017, Chris Wilder has signed 22 players for Sheffield United in his six previous January windows as Blades manager.

Some have become cult heroes and others barely played. Before the ranking starts this is purely opinion and a bit of fun, please feel free to debate my rankings.

Note: This is also based on the relative quality of the player to the level of football they were signed for. It is also only based on their times at United. Plus, this is also before any signings made in January 2025.

22. Panagiotis Retsos

Retsos’ time at Bramall Lane is the perfect example of when sometimes a player just doesn’t work at a club. He’d proven before and since his loan signing in January 2020 that he is very capable defender for top sides like Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiacos.

Retsos didn’t play a single game for the Blades, sitting on the bench for a few Premier League games. The pandemic didn’t help Retsos and after the Premier League’s return, the Greek international decided against returning on loan to Bramall Lane to finish the season.

21. Jack Rodwell

After a promising start to his career at Everton and Manchester City. There was some hope from optimistic Blades fans including myself that Wilder could work his magic on Rodwell. Turning yet another free agent signing into a cult hero.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Rodwell, known for being a midfielder, was played as a centre-back in his three appearances for the Blades. Rodwell managed to stay at Bramall Lane until June 2021. But it’s fair to say his 18 month stay did not go as planned for anyone.

20. Joe Riley

Joe Riley joined the Blades in 2017 on loan from Manchester United becoming the third player signed by Wilder in the window.

In fairness to Riley, he came in after recently recovering from a hamstring injury. Although, despite Wilder’s initial excitement, Riley only went on to make two appearances as a Blade. Additionally, Riley had the difficult task of breaking into the Starting XI of Wilder’s League One Centurions. An unenviable task.

19. Jake Bennett

Bennett is unlucky to be this lowdown on the list. The defender signed for Sheffield United from his current club Mickleover in the January 2017 window.

He was a good player for the U23s but only made one appearance for the Blades in August 2017. When he replaced Chris Basham on the 58th minute in the EFL Cup against Walsall.

Whilst at Bramall Lane, he was loaned out to Chesterfield. Although, he didn’t play for the Spireites due to injuring his cruciate ligament which saw him out for ten months. Then, a thigh injury during recovery saw Bennett not play again before his Blades release in October 2019.

So, Jake’s place on the list isn’t due to his quality as a player. Rather the lack of game time due to circumstances out of his control. Ultimately, it is good to see him doing well back at Mickleover as he has shown great determination to overcome difficult injuries.

18. Ricky Holmes

Ricky Holmes was a player wanted by Wilder for some time. He had previously played under Wilder at Northampton Town. But his time at United did not live up to the chase.

He played just five games for the Blades before heading out on loan to Oxford United and Gillingham. However, both loans didn’t go to plan due to injury issues.

17. Ryan Leonard

Leonard joined the Blades in 2018 in the same window as Holmes. He made 17 appearances for the Blades from January to the end of the season.

In the summer, Leonard left for Millwall on loan and by the following January was signed permanently to stay at The Den. After a few decent showings for United, Leonard’s departure was very sudden. But, based on his subsequent and ongoing six years at Millwall, he appears to be another player who was more suited for another club.

16. Richairo Zivkovic

Zivkovic is arguably this high up on the list because of two things. His speed and the randomness of his signing. When the Blades were promoted to the Premier League not many fans expected a loan from the Chinese Super League.

He played five times for the Blades in the Premier League. Whilst, it perhaps was a good decision to not take up the option for a permanent move. Zivkovic will always be remembered as one of Wilder’s strangest signings and for that he climbs to 16th.

15. James Wilson (The Striker)

The second Manchester United loan on the list. James Wilson joined the Blades in 2018 for the remainder of the 2017-2018 season.

Wilson made nine appearances for the Blades in total, eight in the Championship scoring once. Whilst, his time at the club is mostly remembered for the Blades having two James Wilsons at the time. James added a decent option for the Blades frontline.

14. Lee Evans

Evans played 21 games for the Blades after signing in January 2018. Whilst, he would have a similar fate to Ryan Leonard, his extra playing time and two Blades goals sees him get a higher ranking. Especially given the two goals came in a brace against Middlesbrough.

As mentioned above, Evans time as a Blade saw a similar end to Ryan Leonard’s. Evans joined Wigan Athletic on loan in August 2018 and by January 2019 joined the Latics permanently.

13. Jay O’Shea

O’Shea joined the Blades on loan from Chesterfield to help with the promotion push to the Championship.

If he had spent longer at the club O’Shea could have been higher up the list. As in a short time he contributed a great deal. He scored three goals in ten League One matches and was a victim of his own success. As the promoted Blades didn’t sign him permanently.

12. James Hanson

Hanson signed for the Blades in January 2017 from Bradford City. He spent eighteen months at Bramall Lane including a loan to Bury the following January.

In his time in red-and-white, Hanson scored once and contributed four assists to the Blades in just fifteen games. All of his goal contributions came in the 2016-17 season, meaning that similarly to O’Shea, Hanson came into help the Blades end their stay in the third tier.

11. Ivo Grbic

Grbic joined the Blades last year from Atletico Madrid. He made nine Premier League appearances for United before Wes Foderingham got back into the team.

Whilst, Grbic has received some stick from many United fans, as he didn’t perform as the club required, it is only fair to acknowledge that not many goalkeepers would have played well in last season’s Sheffield United side. It is unlikely he will ever play for the Blades again. But during his loan spell at Rizespor, he has been a decent No.1 in Turkey.

10. Samir Carruthers

Carruthers joined the Blades in January 2017 for a reported fee of around £250,000. He made 14 appearances as the Blades were promoted from League One.

He scored his only Blades goal against Fulham in the Championship in November 2017’s 5-4 thriller. Carruthers made 31 total appearances for the Blades contributing four assists for the club. He was released by the Blades in Summer 2019 and joined Cambridge United.

9. Mason Holgate

Holgate joined the Blades on loan on 1 February 2024. Similarly to Grbic, Holgate was unfortunate to join a defeated Blades side meaning he was immediately on the back foot. This was furthered by his debut in a 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the only time Holgate would see five conceded in a Blades shirt. After, he was red-carded against Brighton, the Blades again conceded five.

Ultimately, after being rumoured to join the Blades for numerous windows, Holgate will not be remembered fondly by many in red-and-white.

8. Daniel Lafferty

Lafferty, has the technicality of being signed in August on loan but then joining the Blades permanently on a free transfer in January 2017.

As the left wing-back before Enda Stevens, Lafferty deserves a high ranking for being part of the Blades squad that escaped League One. All of this squad deserve recognition in the Blades rise to the Premier League. As it can be argued that promotion from League One was one of the biggest obstacles for the club. At least psychologically and in terms of generating the upward momentum.

7. Kieran Dowell

The most underrated of the 2019 January signings, Kieran Dowell stepped up to help the Blades reach the Premier League.

His header against West Brom in February 2019 gained the Blades an important three points for the eventual automatic promotion. In total, Dowell played 17 games for the Blades contributing two goals and an assist.

Ultimately, whilst Madine and Hogan grabbed the headlines, Dowell’s contribution was in many ways just as essential in a tight race with Leeds for 2nd.

6. Scott Hogan

Hogan joined the Blades in January 2019 on loan from Aston Villa and alongside Gary Madine played an essential but limited role in the Blades’ Premier League return.

Hogan played just eight games and contributed two goals and an assist. His goal against Ipswich Town all but sealed promotion to the Premier League. A goal and a moment that lives long in the memory for many Blades. There aren’t many players who did so much in just eight Sheffield United games.

5. Gary Madine

The other loanee of the 2019 window, Madine joined the Blades from Cardiff City. His 16 appearances saw him double Hogan’s total and his three goals were also important in Premier League promotion.

His brace against Reading at Bramall Lane helped the Blades win 4-0 and to move into the automatics. Ultimately, Dowell, Hogan, and Madine deserve to be in the top six as all three came in and proved to be the final pieces of the promotion puzzle.

4. Sander Berge

To this day, Sander Berge is the Blades’ second most expensive player of all time. The Norwegian midfielder will forever be an important part of the Blades’ early 2020s period. He was part of the Blades highest ever Premier League finish, a Premier League relegation and a promotion back to the top flight.

It is also possible that without Berge’s quality the Blades may not have been promoted back to the Premier League in 2023. What denies Berge a medal in this list is a couple of things. The Blades inability to make profit on him and secondly as the top three are made up of two United captains and a certain Chile international.

3. Jack Robinson

Signed in January 2020, Jack Robinson is one of the few players in this list to still be at the club. He is also the current club captain and is one of the final reminders of the first Wilder era.

One of the most impressive things about Captain Jack is his role this season. Despite, playing as a backup for Harry Souttar and Anel Ahmedhodzic, Robinson has come in since Souttar’s injury and kept the defence on track. For a player of his age, coming back into the team relatively smoothly is very impressive.

2. Ben Brereton-Diaz

Likely becoming a two-time contender for this list this week. Ben Brereton-Diaz is one of Chris Wilder’s best January signings ever. In just 14 games, Brereton-Diaz managed to score six goals and get an assist. An average of one goal contribution every two games.

In a season where the Blades finished bottom of the Premier League, Brereton-Diaz was a shining light. This is proven by the excitement around his return. Whilst, I’ve mentioned players on this list who may just not have fit Sheffield United. Brereton-Diaz’s time at Southampton shows that United is one of the club’s he fits.

Also by placing him in second, it allows him to earn the top spot for his time after his January 2025 arrival.

1. Oliver Norwood

(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Oliver Norwood is in my opinion, Chris Wilder’s greatest ever January signing, although I know there is an asterisk. Whilst, he joined the club on loan in August 2018. I think it’s fair to admit that signing him permanently in January was one of the best deals from Wilder’s time as manager.

Signing permanently in this way is even more important for Norwood than most other players. Before getting promoted to the Premier League with United, Norwood had gained successive promotions with Brighton and Fulham (loan) with both casting him aside for the top flight.

On his third time lucky, Norwood was trusted to play in the Premier League and alongside Lundstram and Fleck made a great midfield three. Afterwards, he stuck with the Blades through good and bad. Through, Wilder, Heckingbottom, Jokanovic, Heckingbottom (again) and then Wilder (again). Leading to 252 total Blades appearances contributing 11 goals and 21 assists.

Ultimately, the permanent signing of Oliver Norwood, given his later captaincy and longevity at the club, is for me, Chris Wilder’s greatest January signing.

Takeaways

Ultimately, this can be somewhat subjective regardless of stats. I will have undoubtedly have ranked some players in positions anyone reading this will disagree with.

Generally, I believe most players are in correct sections and ordering them became easier as I reached the players at the top end of the list. As these players had played more games and there was a greater sample to judge them off. Whereas, players lower down the list feel more interchangeable.

Finally, this is a bit of fun analysing a window that can lead to crazy rumours, and a mixed bag of actual signings. Feel free to let me know your orders for Chris Wilder’s January signings so far.