Sheffield United started the season with a new optimism, but now have a dark cloud lingering over their head.
Sheffield United fans were looking forward to a fresh start with a proper summer window to strengthen the squad. Unfortunately, it has been anything but so far for SUFC.
The Blades have only made three summer signings so far this season, with Romelle Donovan and Kalvin Phillips coming in on loan from Brentford and Manchester City respectively, while Matt Doherty is the only permanent transfer.
Now, the problems don’t end there. A High Court judge has ordered the winding-up of COH Sports Bidco, the company used to purchase the club, following a dispute over an alleged £35m owed to former owner Prince Abdullah.
The EFL is now considering the situation and potential action against Sheffield United, with the possibility of a 12-point deduction now hanging over the club just a week after the start of the season. This isn’t the only mistake the ownership will have to pay for, as we look at where it has all gone wrong for the Bramall Lane chiefs.
Sheffield United’s questionable managerial changes
Back in the 2024/25 season, Sheffield United were looking to bounce straight back to the Premier League following their relegation the season prior. Following their Championship play-off final defeat to Sunderland came the first major decision from new owners Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy.
Legendary manager Chris Wilder was controversially sacked despite signing a new contract just months before, replacing him with Ruben Selles.
Selles lasted just six matches before SUFC sacked him, leaving the Blades bottom of the Championship on zero points.
The club then reappointed Wilder, a decision made to try and win fans over again, and he eventually led them to a comfortable 13th place finish – a huge step back on what had been an almost perfect season a year before.
Sheffield United – 2024/25 vs 2025/26 league finish
Sheffield United’s failed AI recruitment experiment
Although Selles didn’t deliver in his short spell in charge, he had little support in the early spell of the transfer window.
Former professional poker player James Bord led a new AI recruitment scheme at the forefront of the window, which went onto failure spectacularly. As of now, Ehije Ukaki is the only AI signing to make a first-team appearance for Sheffield United.
Christian Nwachukwu and Jefferson Caceres have already left the club permanently, whilst Mihail Polendakov is out on loan in Bulgaria, and Nils Zatterstrom is available to leave the club.
During this time with the Blades, Bord led a consortium to buy rivals Sheffield Wednesday. SUFC then terminated their agreement with him.
Questions left unanswered in Rosen, Eltoukhy radio silence
Frustrations have increased amongst Sheffield United fans over the ownership of the club.
Since the takeover of the club, Rosen and Eltoukhy haven’t had any engagement with fans, and haven’t had any interviews with local media. Whenever something emerges from this story, such as the winding-up petition and potential points deduction, they remain dismissive and are still yet to let fans know what is happening.
This ownership was supposed to close one troubled chapter in the club’s history. Instead, it may have opened another one, one that could be much more damaging.
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