Sheffield United: Chris Wilder set his sights on "number one target" at Brentford and will have been glad deal was done | OneFootball

Chris Wilder brought John Egan to Sheffield United where he enjoyed huge success

John Egan departed Sheffield United in the summer after a successful six-year spell at Bramall Lane, and it's fair to say that Chris Wilder's decision to sign him in 2018 proved an excellent call.

The Irishman was part of a hugely successful era at the Blades, helping them win promotion to the Premier League on two occasions and playing Premier League football for three seasons, which included a remarkable ninth place finish in 2020.

The centre-back was signed by Wilder in the summer of 2018 after making a name for himself at Championship level with Brentford, a £4.1million deal which broke the Blades' record transfer fee at the time.

It was a substantial fee for a club who had only been promoted from League One 12 months prior, but Wilder knew he needed to add to his squad if they were to go to the next level, and it was clear that he was desperately keen to bring the Republic of Ireland international to Bramall Lane that summer.

After winning the League One title in 2017, Wilder's side enjoyed a decent first season back in the Championship, finishing 10th, just six points off the play-offs.

It was a campaign which laid the foundations for better to come, but Wilder knew he needed to add Championship quality to his side if they were to trouble the promotion places.

After an impressive couple of seasons in West London with Brentford, Wilder made signing Egan a priority, and had been eyeing a deal for the defender all summer prior to getting the deal over the line.

When Egan's signing was announced in July 2018, Wilder told Sheffield United's website: "John has been our number one target in that position throughout the summer, it has been going on a while and we've kept it close to our chests because we've had to. I've monitored him for a number of seasons now and he is a defender who defends properly and he's been excellent as skipper for Brentford.

"We see him as a leader and he is worthy of the fee we've paid for him, in my opinion he is a better player than a couple of those who have already moved for bigger fees this summer. His Championship experience will be crucial as is his experience of being at the right end of the division.

"He's a great age, will develop with us and when that happens I have every confidence that he will be a regular international with the Republic of Ireland."

Over the next six years, Egan would show exactly why he was Wilder's "number one target" throughout the summer of 2018, and Wilder would have been delighted that the deal was completed as he became one of the first names on his teamsheet.

John Egan's signing was an excellent piece of business by Chris Wilder

Over the course of the next six years, Egan would make 223 appearances for the Blades during one of the most successful periods in their recent history, helping to become a cult-hero at Bramall Lane.

It's often forgotten that his move to Sheffield United in 2018 actually wasn't his first stint at the club, as he had a brief spell on loan from Sunderland back in 2012 as a youngster, but he made just one appearance during this spell, and he was certainly a different player when he joined on a permanent basis.

He started 44 out of a possible 46 Championship games as they won automatic promotion in his first season at the club, and he continued to be a regular in the Premier League.

36 appearances followed during their memorable 2019/20 season, and had it not been for lockdown disrupting the season, the Blades could well have qualified for European football, a remarkable achievement and Egan was central to it.

The Irishman was trusted to wear the captain's armband at times the following season in what was a dismal campaign for the Blades as they finished rock bottom and were relegated, but he became a better player thanks to the Premier League experience.

He started every single Championship game the following season as his side reached the play-offs in 2022, and missed just one during the 2022/23 campaign as he led his side back to the Premier League - his second promotion to the top-flight with the Blades.

The 2023/24 campaign was his final one with the Blades, and while it was far from the fairytale ending as they finished bottom of the Premier League with just 16 points, Egan can't shoulder too much of the blame for that.

He played just six league games at the start of the season before being ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a foot injury, a far from ideal way to end his time at the club.

Egan was released in the summer alongside a number of other experienced players as Wilder looked to kickstart a new era at Bramall Lane, but the Irishman will always be fondly remembered at the club.

Wilder's decision to make him the "number one target" in 2018 proved an excellent call in hindsight, and Egan helped give Sheffield United supporters some of their best days in recent history.