Arsenal and Juventus once wanted Sheffield United's teenage star - look at him now | OneFootball

Sheffield United's Diego De Girolamo had interest from top European clubs but ultimately failed to live up to his potential

Sheffield United have produced plenty of top level players from their academy system over the years, but naturally not everyone fulfills their early promise.

The Championship side can boast graduates such as Phil Jagielka, Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire and the legendary Billy Sharp.

The current squad also has the likes of Sydie Peck and Ollie Arblaster carrying the flag of the academy system, with Chris Wilder looking to take the Blades back to the Premier League.

Both Peck and Arblaster have been crucial figures in the team, when available, and as a result they have a strong bond with the supporters at Bramall Lane - and one past former youth team breakout was similarly popular earlier in his career.

Diego De Girolamo’s Sheffield United breakout

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Diego De Girolamo was a Sheffield United academy player from 2002 until he made his first senior appearances in 2012.

The forward only played two times in League One for the Blades in 2012/13 as they came fifth in the standings, but they failed to earn promotion through the play-offs.

De Girolamo was handed his debut by Danny Wilson in the EFL Trophy against Coventry City in December 2012, before coming off the bench against Colchester United a few months later, even providing an assist for Dave Kitson's late goal in the 3-0 Bramall Lane success.

His season was ended abruptly though just when he was making a breakthrough, having suffered a knee injury on international duty for Italy's under-18's in March 2013, but over a year later, it didn't stop some big clubs from wanting to sign him.

The tussle to sign Diego De Girolamo

Both Arsenal and Juventus were both linked with a move for the youngster after he returned from his 12-month injury layoff.

The two giants of European football were keen on De Girolamo in the summer of 2014 in the aftermath of his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

There was a lot of excitement regarding his potential, and there was even a scrap to secure his future at international level.

It was claimed that former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi personally rang the youngster in a bid to convince him to play for Italy instead of England.

This proved successful, as he represented the Azzurri at U18, U19 and U20 level, but a move at club level to a European giant never happened - and in turn, his career never kicked on.

Diego De Girolamo’s career never got going after Sheffield United setbacks

De Girolamo was loaned out to both York City and Northampton Town in the 2014-15 season to get some senior football under his belt, but despite a few appearances that year too in the FA Cup for Sheffield United, he never grasped the opportunities that he was handed.

And in 2016, despite signing a new contract at Bramall Lane a year prior, the forward joined Bristol City after being transfer listed by Chris Wilder.

But the striker’s stint with the Robins never got going either, with loan spells to Cheltenham Town and Chesterfield both taking up the bulk of his time at Ashton Gate.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the young Sheffield United star, but his career never got going at a Championship or League One level, with injuries playing a significant role. in that too.

Diego De Girolamo has become a non-league stalwart after pro career failed to ignite

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De Girolamo took the step down to non-league football in 2018, making the move from Macclesfield Town to Buxton.

Now 30 years of age, De Girolamo spent seven years with Buxton, albeit with one brief loan spell to Macclesfield, and he had a particularly prolific season in 2023-24, scoring 16 National League North goals before signing for Matlock Town in 2025.

And after short stints there and at Belper Town, he made the move to West Yorkshire side Emley earlier this year - who play one step below the National League North.

It’s fair to say that the forward was unable to fulfill the promise many had hoped for him when he first broke through at Sheffield United, but he remains one of many names to graduate from their academy system all the same.