A promotion push, a transfer embargo, and now talk of an “African billionaire” taking over – it’s all happening at Sheffield United.
This would scarcely have been believable in 2019-20, when the Blades finished ninth in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup quarter-finals, but evidently the club bit off more than they could chew in the transfer market.
In came Sander Berge (£22m), Oli McBurnie (£20m), Rhian Brewster (£23.5m) and Aaron Ramsdale (£18.5m) – among other players – across the space of three transfer windows, but down they went in 2020-21 after finishing rock-bottom of the Premier League.
Cue the repercussions, with the club – in the midst of their bid to secure a return from the Championship after missing out in the play-offs last year – sanctioned by the English Football League (EFL) last month after failing to keep up with transfer payments to another club.
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The embargo will be lifted once the payments are made, while United acknowledged the transfer ban in a statement on 20 January.
“Club officials remain in constant dialogue with relevant stakeholders, with the aim of working to a resolution early next week. The club would like to thank the EFL for its assistance and taking into account a number of unique circumstances,” the club said.
“The board of directors would like to assure supporters that promotion to the Premier League remains the primary objective this season and will continue to support Paul Heckingbottom and the team.”
The EFL transfer rule Sheff Utd breached
Transfer/Compensation fees method of payment
52.2.3: If a Club is in default of payments due to another Club (or club) under a transfer or compensation agreement the Club shall be subject to a registration embargo such that it shall not be permitted to register any Player with that Club without the prior written consent of The League until such time as the agreement is honoured.
From the EFL’s rulebook
The sanctions come at a time when owner Prince Abdullah is in talks to sell the club.
The buyer in question remains a mystery, however, with The Times reporting an “African billionaire” is considering a £90m takeover. Their identity is a “closely guarded secret”, the report adds, with a deal close to being finalised.
The prospective new owner would have to pass the EFL’s owners’ and directors’ test, but should the takeover go ahead then it would be a timely boost for the Premier League-chasing side.
United sit second in the Championship, 12 points above third-placed Middlesbrough with a game in hand.
Promotion therefore looks all but secured with 18 games remaining, while manager Paul Heckingbottom insisted he would not let the embargo distract his squad from their main aim.
“The EFL have sanctioned us,” he said. “We are working hard to deal with it but I leave that to the powers that be to sort out. I’m not going to get involved.
“I won’t let anything hinder us or stop us, that was the message to the boys.”
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