Sheffield Wednesday have a new secret weapon - Pedersen think he's 'class' | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday have a secret weapon ahead of the 2026/27 League One season, with Henrik Pedersen already stating that he's 'class'...

Sheffield Wednesday's rebuild under David Storch has understandably centred around an influx of new signings, fresh infrastructure, and a renewed sense of optimism following last season's disastrous relegation.

Yet, while attention at Hillsborough has largely focused on those arriving from elsewhere, there is another area of the club that could prove to be just as important over the coming years and last season set them up for it. The Owls' miserable 2025/26 campaign at least presented opportunities that may not otherwise have materialised.

With results proving to be difficult to come by and the Sheffield Wednesday squad crying out for fresh energy, Henrik Pedersen was forced to look towards the club's academy more regularly than he may have planned. It was hardly an ideal environment for young players to develop, but it's inarguable that regular exposure to senior football and first-team training accelerated the progress of several promising prospects.

As Wednesday now prepare for life in League One, that difficult period could yet have a silver lining. The club's long-term future will not be built solely through recruitment, but also by producing homegrown talent capable of becoming regulars in the first-team. While supporters are understandably excited by the new arrivals, one of the club's biggest assets may already be wearing blue and white.

Henrik Pedersen's view of Will Grainger

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Pedersen certainly appears to think so, having described one of Wednesday's brightest academy products as "class" after watching his development up close. Given everything that has happened at Hillsborough over the past few years, those words could certainly carry significant weight.

Per the BBC, Pedersen's exact words are: "He is class. He is going to be really, really good". The player in question is 17-year-old Will Grainger, who has rapidly established himself as one of the most highly-rated youngsters at the football club over the last six months in particular.

After making his debut in the penalty shootout win against Leeds United, Grainger went from strength to strength. Earlier this month, Grainger signed his first professional contract after Wednesday successfully fought off interest from a number of clubs to secure his long-term future.

According to the BBC, Everton had been keen on pinching Grainger from Wednesday, but the teenager has put pen to paper on a three-year deal. It comes after a breakthrough campaign that saw him take significant strides towards becoming a genuine first-team option.

While Grainger made only eight senior appearances, six of those came in the Championship, and his involvement steadily increased as the season progressed. Having featured in just four of the opening 32 Championship matchday squads, the attacker became a regular presence around the first-team during the closing weeks of the campaign.

He at least made the bench in each of Wednesday's final 14 league fixtures. That growing trust culminated in him scoring his first senior goal during the 4-1 defeat to Oxford United in the penultimate game of the season before earning his only Championship start on the final day win against West Bromwich Albion.

Those experiences could prove to be invaluable heading into 2026/27. Rather than making the leap into senior football from scratch, Grainger already knows what is required at first-team level and enters the new season with genuine momentum behind him, as well as his manager's full backing and glowing report.

Why Will Grainger is Sheffield Wednesday's secret weapon

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Already one of Sheffield Wednesday's youngest-ever scorers, he is now the joint-youngest player in Wednesday's senior squad alongside Leeds United loanee Harry Gray. Grainger has every opportunity to push for more regular minutes in League One next season.

Relegation may have been a bitter disappointment for the club, but it could inadvertently accelerate the pathway for young players capable of handling senior football, much like the most recent campaign in the Championship, albeit now at a more comfortable and easier to manage level.

Grainger's versatility only strengthens his case. Comfortable operating across a variety of attacking positions, he offers Pedersen flexibility, although his long-term future appears most likely to be through the middle as a striker. That positional adaptability should only increase his chances of contributing across a demanding League One campaign.

There is also international recognition beginning to arrive. Eligible to represent either England or Wales, Grainger appears to have committed his future to Wales, with him growing through the age groups and highlighting yet another indication of the growing reputation he has built at such a young age.

Wednesday's summer rebuild has understandably captured the headlines, but not every important addition has come from outside the club. After battling to keep hold of one of their brightest academy prospects and rewarding him with a professional contract, the Owls may already possess a secret weapon capable of making a significant impact over the coming seasons.

If Pedersen's glowing assessment is anything to go by, Grainger could be the next homegrown gem to emerge through the Sheffield Wednesday ranks at Hillsborough.