Who is Sheffield United target Rob Holding? | OneFootball

With a CV including Arsenal and Crystal Palace, Rob Holding is Sheffield United’s most-known January 2025 target to date.

With the window closing tomorrow. Holding has emerged, according to Alan Nixon, as a potential target should the Blades fail to sign QPR’s Jimmy Dunne.

So, who is the former Gunner who could become a Blade?

Youth Career

Born in Stalybridge, Holding began his career with Lancashire club Bolton Wanderers. He joined their academy in 2003 aged 7. In the next eleven years, he quickly developed progressing through the Trotters’ academy.

Bolton’s U23 manager, David Lee told Football London: “He was always a quiet lad in the academy. He just came in, did his job, enjoyed it and worked hard.”

Upon graduation from the academy, Holding was loaned to League Two Bury. He made his professional debut for Bury on 3 April 2015. Holding entered the game as a 79th minute substitute as his team beat Cambridge United 2-0.

Despite, only playing once for Bury. His loan move and academy credentials saw Holding earn a professional contract with the Wanderers.

Bolton Wanderers

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

The early years of Holding’s promising career coincided with Bolton’s decline. When he joined the academy in 2003, Sam Allardyce had guided the club to 8th in the Premier League.

By his Wanderers debut on 11 August 2015, Bolton were a few seasons into being a Championship club. The season itself would see them relegated to League One.

Personally, for Holding his only season for Bolton saw him play 30 games and get his first career goal on 23 January 2016. Furthermore, Holding won Bolton’s Player of the Year for 2015-16, a great achievement for a 20-year-old.

With a great personal season under his belt, big clubs came calling. In fact London was calling and Holding was on his way to the Emirates.

Becoming a Gunner

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Holding moved to North London on 22 July 2016 reportedly for around £2 million.

He was thrown immediately into the deep end. Injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista saw Holding make his Gunners debut against Liverpool in the opening Premier League game. Unfortunately, Holding’s debut ended in an entertaining 4-3 defeat. Although, not that anyone could blame the young debutant.

In the next game, Holding started against reigning Champions Leicester City. He earnt his first Arsenal clean sheet as the sides drew 0-0. After the game, Arsene Wenger commented on Holding’s role as a sudden starter and criticism of his lack of experience.

Wenger said: “Unfortunately no-one speaks about the performance of Rob Holding. You should be happy, he is English and 20 years old. I am sorry he didn’t cost £55 million, so he can’t be good.”

By the end of the season, Holding had made 18 total appearances for Arsenal. Half of which were in the Premier League. He also featured in one Champions League game. To cap off his great first season, Holding started in the 2017 FA Cup final as Arsenal triumphed over rivals Chelsea.

Second Season

Holding began his second season with another triumph over Chelsea. With the Gunners beating the Blues on penalties in the Community Shield.

He also scored his first Gunners’ goal in the Europa League against Bate Borisov.

In total, Holding played 26 times, with 8 Europa League appearances. His successful first two seasons saw him rewarded with a new long-term contract at the end of the season.

Third Season

Holding’s third season started with 16 appearances in all competitions. Only to be halted in early December. Holding suffered a ruptured ACL in his left knee against Manchester United.

The injury required surgery and Holding was ruled out for the season.

Fourth Season

Holding returned to the side in September 2019 in the EFL Cup against Nottingham Forest. It turned out to be the perfect return. With Holding grabbing a goal in the 71st minute contributing to the Gunners’ 5-0 victory.

For anyone wondering, Holding was an unused substitute when Arsenal travelled to Bramall Lane on 21 October. Therefore, he was not a victim of prime Lys Mousset.

He played just 18 games for the Gunners during the COVID-impacted season. On 1 August 2020, Holding repeated his earlier career feat as he started the 2020 FA Cup Final against Chelsea. Again, helping the Gunners win the FA Cup over their rivals and earning Mikel Arteta’s first trophy as manager.

Fifth Season

Holding won his second Community Shield to kick-off his fifth season as an Arsenal player. The 2020-2021 season would be Holding’s best in an Arsenal shirt. He played 39 times in all competitions, 30 of which were Premier League matches.

In January 2021, his return to being a regular starter was rewarded. As Holding signed a two-and-a-half-year deal. In the same month he made his 100th Arsenal appearance.

The Gunners finished 8th in the Premier League and reached the Europa League semi-finals.

Final Arsenal Seasons

Holding made just fifteen Premier League appearances in the 2021-2022 season.

Although his penultimate season did have some interesting moments. Towards the end of the season, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 2-1 win over West Ham.

Less than two weeks later, another London Derby. The North London Derby on 12 May 2022, saw Holding receive his first career red card. As he picked up two yellows for fouls on Heung-Min Son.

In his final season, with Arsenal fighting for the Premier League title. Holding played 14 Premier League games.

His only notable achievement was a consolation goal on 26 April 2023. As Arsenal lost 4-1 to eventual Champions Manchester City.

From North to South London

A northern-born player, Holding’s third permanent club saw him move further south. Joining another capital-based club in Crystal Palace last season.

He joined the Eagles for a reported £4 million on a three-year deal. Interestingly, seeing the Gunners making a profit and doubling their original investment.

Palace have only played Holding once in the EFL Cup on 26 September 2023. Although, he played the full three-nil defeat, Holding has yet to feature again for Palace. His last professional game, therefore, was almost sixteen months ago.

Since then, he has made a few Premier League 2 appearances for Palace.

International Career

Whilst, never getting a senior England cap. Holding has played 5 times for England U21s. He was actually part of the 2016 Toulon Tournament squad, who under Gareth Southgate, won the tournament.

Takeaways

With many of the recent rumours at centre-back, I’ve looked to compare their stats to Harry Souttar’s. But for Rob Holding, a lack of recent playing time. Plus, his playing time being mostly in the Premier League. Makes comparison difficult.

The obvious downsides to signing Holding is his lack of playing time for Palace. He would likely need an in season pre-season which the Blades can’t particularly afford right now.

What can’t be argued is his impressive Premier League experience. Fitting in so quickly at Arsenal not only shocked a few but earnt him respect. Although, repeating the feat nine years down the line may be a big ask.

Would I bet on Chris Wilder turning his career around. Yes. He certainly has form. By all accounts, Holding has a hard-working attitude which is an attribute Wilder likes. Although, if Dunne or even Tanganga are available. The Blades should be Holding off on a move for Rob.