Why £4m Sheffield United raid on Brentford still looks like a transfer masterclass | OneFootball

Sheffield United struck golden transfer of John Egan from Brentford

John Egan's move to Sheffield United from Brentford proved to be a transfer masterclass for £4m.

In the summer of 2018, Sheffield United made the, at the time, club record signing of Egan from Brentford in a deal worth £4 million.

After taking a punt on Egan with a hefty transfer fee, what came next for his time in a Blades shirt was to the surprise of all involved at Bramall Lane. He undoubtedly exceeded expectations as the Irish international went on to make over a double century of appearances for the Blades, making himself a memorable servant for the South Yorkshire side.

He certainly cemented his name in the history books at Sheffield United.

Upon his arrival, his signing brought about much excitement after making a name for himself in League One whilst playing for Gillingham, where the defender was named in the 2015/16 League One PFA Team of the Year.

Subsequently, Egan transferred to Brentford as a free agent, where he continued his good form, becoming a regular starter for the Bees by making 67 appearances in two seasons.

From there on, the Irishman's career took an upturn as interest arose from the Blades, who snapped him up for a handsome fee.

When speaking to Sky Sports about signing Egan from Brentford, former Blades boss Chris Wilder said: "John has been our number one target in that position throughout the summer, it has been going on a while, and we've kept it close to our chests because we've had to."

John Egan's transfer to Sheffield United was a masterstroke

Egan's first season was very successful under Chris Wilder, making an instant impact for the Blades by featuring 44 times in the league. After that, Egan will forever be held in the hearts of the Blades faithful for his six-year service to the club.

The steely centre-back contributed with one goal and one assist at the top end of the pitch in his first year, and, in the defensive third, was rock solid, which helped his new club to finish second in the Championship and earn a spot in the Premier League the following season.

Egan made the switch from Brentford to Sheffield United in which he had to undergo a significant tactical switch. After being used to playing in a back four for his career up to that point, slotting into Wilder's tactics of a back three was a change that would take some getting used to, but the defender took to the system at ease.

After having his first season in 2018/19 to learn the ropes of his new role, Egan's following campaign was nothing short of outstanding in the Premier League as the Blades pulled off a shock top-half finish thanks to their defensive stability which Egan was at the heart of.

This saw Egan quickly become a fan favourite in South Yorkshire due to his consistent high performance levels as well as constant availability for selection under Wilder.

£4m for John Egan proved to be a top-class capture

When Egan arrived at the club, he had the responsibility to live up to the expectations that the £4m price tag brought with it. However, in hindsight, that fee looks to have been a steal for the centre-half.

Having broken the club-record transfer fee on multiple occasions since Egan's arrival, the reliable defender can still be regarded as one of the club's most 'value for money' signings that Bramall Lane has seen. For the money they paid as a top Championship club, it's hard to get much better than they got.

Even in times of hardship with the Blades when they suffered relegation back to the Championship, Egan's performances remained constant even after the departure of Wilder. He played 45 of 46 games in the 2022/23 season, as Sheffield United stormed to another promotion under Paul Heckingbottom this time - his real last meaningful impact in the red and white stripes.

With Egan struggling for constant game time towards the end of his tenure at Sheffield United due to injuries, this eventually led to him making the move to Burnley in the summer of 2024.

With the Irishman now trying to find his feet with fellow Championship outfit, Hull City, after recent injury concerns, Egan's name will long be remembered for his time he spent with the Blades and in particular the £4 million the club paid for the defender from Brentford, making his move still look a golden transfer.