Blades Face Competition to Sign Powerful Premier League Midfielder | OneFootball

Sheffield United are in a race with Birmingham City and Coventry City to sign Brentford and Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka.

The Bees are understood to be seeking a fee in the region of £8 million for the 28-year-old, via Birmingham World. As Championship clubs look to strengthen their midfields ahead of a demanding campaign, Onyeka’s profile stands out as tailor-made for the physical intensity of England’s second tier.

Frank “The Tank” Onyeka

Onyeka is not an easy midfielder to come up against. In fact, he is exactly the type of opponent managers warn players about before kick-off. He enjoys physical contact and thrives in chaotic, high-tempo games.

Get too tight to him and he can manipulate his body superbly, rolling defenders, shielding the ball, or spinning away to draw fouls. Stand off him or leave space in behind and he has the athleticism to drive beyond you or play penetrative passes into advanced areas. It is this combination of physicality, intelligence and mobility that makes him such an awkward player to play against.

Standing at around 6ft tall with a lanky but powerful frame, Onyeka is the archetypal modern-day box-to-box midfielder. His upper body strength allows him to compete aggressively in 50/50 duels, while his long stride and stamina enable him to cover huge areas of the pitch.

What Can Sheffield United Expect From the Nigerian Midfielder?

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Frank Onyeka of Brentford is seen during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Brentford at Stadium of Light on August 30, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

For Brentford, he has often been tasked with doing the unglamorous work; pressing, disrupting opposition build-up, and carrying the ball forward under pressure, these details would fit perfectly with Sheffield United given their ability to press high and force turnovers.

During the 2023/24 season with Brentford, he consistently ranked among the team’s leaders for defensive actions. He averaged around three tackles and two interceptions per 90 minutes, alongside seven duels won per game, a 51% success rate.

For Sheffield United in particular, Onyeka would offer something they currently lack. The Blades’ existing midfield options are largely ball-orientated profiles. Oliver Arblaster, Sydie Peck and Tom Davies are all comfortable in possession, technically sound and positionally intelligent, but none bring Onyeka’s level of raw physicality or power running. Meanwhile, Jairo Riedewald and Djibril Soumare are more of a ball-winning midfielder type who prefer to sit deep and screen the defence rather than surge box to box with high energy.

The Nigerian is a connector between defence and attack; capable of breaking up play near his own box and arriving late into the opposition half to support attacks. His engine would allow Sheffield United to press higher up the pitch without losing midfield structure, something that can be vital in the Championship where games are often decided by second balls, transitions and intensity rather than pure technical quality.

Blades Rightfully Hunting Onyeka

At 28, Onyeka is firmly in his prime, old enough to bring leadership and game management, but still athletic and mobile to make his mark.

At around £8 million, the deal would be a significant investment in the January transfer window, but one that could change the dynamic of the current picture in midfield for the Blades.

Stats taken from Fotmob.