John Lundstram signed for Sheffield United in the summer of 2017 and became one of the Blades’ defining players during their promotion to the Premier League and during their first season back in the top flight with his performances from midfield.
Having joined the youth academy of Everton in 2002, John Lundstram signed his first professional contract with the Toffees in 2011, as well as appearing regularly for England’s youth sides.
Lundstram would spend time out on loan with the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Leyton Orient again, and finally Scunthorpe United, where, at the end of that season, he rejected a six-month deal with his boyhood club in search of more first-team football.
He’d attract interest from both Crewe Alexandra and Wigan Athletic of League One upon his release, but he opted to join League Two Oxford United on a two-year deal, saying: “I need a full season out there of playing 30-odd games, that’s the reason behind it.
“The aim is to get stability now and play week-in, week-out to show everyone what I can do.”
In his first season with the U’s, Lundstram made 37 League Two appearances, scoring three and assisting four from midfield as the club earned promotion to League One, and would remain a regular in the side upon their promotion, missing just one game in the third tier the following campaign, attracting interest from the Championship.
John Lundstram signed for Sheffield United from Oxford United in July 2017
With Lundstram entering the final year of his deal at the Kassam Stadium, South Yorkshire outfit Sheffield United completed a deal for the former England youth international in July 2017 for a reported fee of around £700k.
He would initially struggle to break his way into the Blades’ midfield upon his arrival, having to compete with John Fleck, Paul Coutts, and Mark Duffy for a place in Chris Wilder’s preferred 3-5-2 formation, finishing his maiden campaign with 36 Championship appearances, though only 21 of those were starts.
The following season did not get any better for Lundstram. In fact, it got significantly worse, as he made only 10 league appearances across the entire campaign, totalling just 409 minutes of Championship football as Sheffield United earned promotion to the Premier League, with John Fleck and Oliver Norwood often the preferred midfield two in a 3-4-2-1 system.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that upon the Blades’ promotion to the top flight that Lundstram would continue to barely feature or be moved on, given his lack of game time the previous season, but that wouldn’t be the case.
The Englishman made 34 Premier League appearances for Sheffield United that season, as Wilder reverted to the 3-5-2 formation, slotting in the midfield alongside Fleck and Norwood, scoring five goals and grabbing two assists as the Blades defied the odds to finish 9th in their first season back in the top flight.
Though this form would not continue into the next season, as Lundstram made 28 Premier League appearances during the 2020/21 campaign without scoring, though grabbed two assists as Sheffield United finished rock-bottom of the top flight.
He would announce his intentions to leave Bramall Lane at the end of the season after rejecting a contract proposal, and though his time with the club ended on a slightly sour note, his performances during the 2019/2020 will go down in Sheffield United folklore.
John Lundstram left in 2021 for Rangers as a Sheffield United hero
Lundstram would leave Sheffield United following the expiry of his contract, and would subsequently join Scottish giants Rangers on a free transfer under then-manager Steven Gerrard.
Upon his arrival, Gerrard said: “John is a player I have known for some time and knew he would enhance our squad.
“Having played in the Premier League, he has the undoubted quality to enhance our midfield with his technical ability and physicality and I was impressed with his attitude and ambition when we spoke over recent weeks. John is a winner and knows what is required to succeed at a club of this stature.”
The Englishman would go on to make more appearances for Rangers than any other team during his career, with 153 appearances across all competitions for the Glasgow outfit, scoring 11 and assisting nine, which included his iconic goal against RB Leipzig in the Europa League semi-final to send the club to the final.
A spell with Trabzonspor in Turkey during the 2024/25 season led him to join Hull City this summer on a free transfer with the Tigers under a transfer embargo.
Now 31, Lundstram appears to still have a good few years left in the tank, though he will always best be remembered for his exploits with Sheffield United in the Premier League.