Why Coventry City will have had serious Sheffield United envy after player decision - Blades free transfer was a masterstroke | OneFootball

John Fleck's move to Sheffield United in 2016 must have been met with envy at Coventry City

John Fleck’s departure from Coventry City to Sheffield United in 2016 will have led to a lot of envy from the Sky Blues.

The Scot made the switch between the two sides during the summer window, moving as a free agent, with both clubs competing in League One.

Coventry had finished ahead of the Blades in the table, coming eighth, three points clear of the 11th-place team.

But the arrival of Chris Wilder as manager at Bramall Lane led to Fleck joining, with their sights set on competing for promotion back to the Championship.

Fleck not only helped the Yorkshire outfit return to the second tier, but he was even a part of the side that also earned automatic promotion to the Premier League in 2019.

John Fleck’s rise to the Premier League

Fleck immediately became a key figure for the Blades upon his arrival in Wilder’s side in 2016.

The versatile midfielder played 44 times in his first season at Bramall Lane, with the team as they clinched the League One title.

Fleck was key to Sheffield United’s rise from 11th, contributing four goals and 15 assists, bringing the club back to the second tier.

Meanwhile, Coventry fell to 23rd in the table, suffering relegation just 12 months after the player departed for nothing, falling to League Two.

By the time the Sky Blues had earned their own place back in the Championship under Mark Robins in 2020, Sheffield United were competing in the Premier League.

While the two teams did end up in the same division in 2021, even directly competing for promotion from the second tier in 2023, Coventry were unable to make it into the top flight, losing the play-off final to Luton Town.

Fleck made 65 appearances in the Premier League for Sheffield United across three seasons, with the Blades enjoying a high point of a ninth-place finish in 2020 under Wilder.

Sheffield United got their money’s worth from Fleck deal

Given Fleck was signed as a free agent, Sheffield United did extremely well out of their decision to sign him in 2016.

Coventry missed out massively, and will be envious of the success he enjoyed from jumping ship that summer.

The midfielder proved himself as a Premier League calibre player, particularly during the 2019/20 campaign in which he contributed five goals and two assists from 30 appearances in the division.

Sheffield United were in the mix for qualification for European football prior to the pandemic shutting down football for three months.

While the Blades did struggle for form following the game’s return, the high point of their time in the Premier League was still an incredibly memorable journey for supporters, which Fleck was a massive part of.

He proved incredible value in the market, the kind of deal that Sheffield United would love to be able to replicate again.

Fleck ultimately left Sheffield United in 2024, joining Blackburn Rovers, but his impact on the club during his seven years at Bramall Lane made him a player that fans will not forget any time soon.