Nigel Clough struck Sheffield United transfer gold with free transfer | OneFootball

In the summer of 2014, Sheffield United signed eventual cult hero Chris Basham in a low key free transfer from Blackpool.

Back in the summer of 2014, Sheffield United made the signing of Chris Basham on a free transfer following his departure from Blackpool, where he had spent the previous four seasons.

A fairly low-key and almost innocuous transfer at the time turned into a stellar pickup by the Blades and the arrival of someone who went on to become a cult hero at Bramall Lane with nearly 400 appearances for the club over a ten-year period.

Basham, a Sunderland fan who came through the ranks at Newcastle United and then Bolton Wanderers, has been handed a testimonial to be played at Bramall Lane on the final weekend of the 2024/25 season as recognition for his years of service to the club.

From being that innocuous, low-key addition in 2014, Basham went on to become a stalwart of a United side that rose from the third-tier of English football to challengers for European qualification in the Premier League within four seasons.

Basham’s career at Bramall Lane

Chris Basham joined in the summer of 2014 in a transfer window that also saw the arrivals of Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Marc McNulty, Andy Butler, Ben Davies, James Wallace, Craig Alcock, Harrison McGahey, Michael Hidgon, Jay McEveley and Iain Turner.

Some recognisable names and faces but pretty much every player, aside from maybe McEveley, endured an underwhelming and difficult time of it in South Yorkshire – bar Basham.

In his first season at the club under Nigel Clough, the Blades finished fifth before a play-off semi-final loss to Swindon Town, and then they finished 11th in the following campaign under the management of Nigel Adkins.

In the summer of 2016, though, everything changed as Sheffield United romped their way to the League One title, with Basham developing a new role in Chris Wilder’s system, playing as the soon-to-be notorious ‘overlapping centre-back’ on the right-hand side as United were crowned third-tier champions with Basham making the most starts of any player in the squad that wasn't Billy Sharp.

His exceptional form continued for the next two seasons, too, as United continued to build and eventually won automatic promotion to the top-flight in the 2018/19 season with Basham’s engine down the right as well as his defensive prowess once again essential.

Basham played in every game of the 2019/20 Premier League season as United looked as though they may earn European qualification before eventually finishing ninth after a drop-off when games moved to behind-closed-doors as a result of COVID-19.

He remained essential for the Blades as they were relegated from the Premier League and then played a major role in the next two Championship seasons as they were, once again, losing play-off semi-finalists, before being automatically promoted.

Basham suffered a serious ankle injury against Fulham in October 2023 and that turned out to be his last game as a professional footballer, departing the club at the end of the season with his contract not renewed.

Premier League pedigree and potential eventually fulfilled

For United to pick someone up on a free transfer that would be crucial to three promotions at the club in a ten-year spell that saw them leap from the third-tier to the top-flight is an exceptional piece of business.

That summer transfer window under Clough may not have been the most productive or effective, but it did see the arrival of someone verging on legendary status at Bramall Lane.

Wilder’s arrival revitalised the entire club and fanbase but primarily the existing squad as they became top-half Premier League footballers, having been League One also-rans not too long before.

Basham’s Premier League pedigree was there when he broke through at Bolton and made 19 top-flight appearances for the Trotters before a move to Blackpool in the summer of 2010 for a fee believed to be in the region of £1 million following the Seasiders’ promotion to the Premier League under Ian Holloway.

He managed just two appearances due to injuries for Blackpool that season before becoming a fringe player in the Championship and then beginning to establish himself at Bloomfield Road ahead of his move to Sheffield United, but he would have an eight-season wait between appearances in the Premier League.

The pedigree was there, and the potential had always been there, but there will be a feeling that potentially was finally fulfilled with United in a transfer that worked out for everyone involved.