Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday to launch move to sign Cardiff City goalkeeper Ethan Horvath | OneFootball

The Owls are in need of a new goalkeeper following Pierce Charles' injury.

Sheffield Wednesday are lining up a move for Cardiff City goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World.

The Owls are ready to launch a move to sign Horvath from Cardiff as they look to find a short-term replacement for first-choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who has been sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Sheffield Wednesday are unable to sign new players until owner Dejphon Chansiri can offer assurances that he can pay them, but things could be different when it comes to a goalkeeping crisis - the club currently has no senior options available following the injury to Charles.

Signing Horvath would give Henrik Pedersen an experienced goalkeeper to call upon during Wednesday's upcoming fixtures, and while it is currently unclear whether the Owls are preparing to sign him on an emergency loan deal or a free transfer, his arrival would be vitally important.

Sheffield Wednesday to launch move for Ethan Horvath

Ethan Horvath is a goalkeeper with plenty of experience at Championship level, having turned out for Nottingham Forest, Luton Town and Cardiff City in the second tier since his move to England in 2021.

Prior to that, the 30-year-old played for Club Brugge, where he gained experience playing in the UEFA Champions League.

He made 33 appearances in the Championship for the Bluebirds over the last two seasons, but he has found himself down the pecking order in South Wales following the summer arrival of Nathan Trott on loan from FC Copenhagen, and has not featured in the squad at all so far this term.

A move to Hillsborough would give Horvath an opportunity to show that he is still capable of performing in the Championship, while also giving Sheffield Wednesday a solution to their current goalkeeping crisis.

The USA international played a key role for Luton Town during the 2022/23 season, keeping 20 clean sheets in all competitions as they won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs under Rob Edwards.

If he can recreate that form for Sheffield Wednesday in the coming weeks, then it would give the Owls an improved chance of picking up points as they continue to plough on under the disastrous ownership of Chansiri.

Horvath will have big boots to fill in the absence of Pierce Charles

If Wednesday complete a deal for Horvath, the 30-year-old will have big boots to fill in the absence of Pierce Charles.

The 20-year-old has impressed during the early weeks of the 2025/26 campaign, with his penalty shootout performance against Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup showing exactly why he has attracted transfer interest from the likes of West Ham United and Rangers during the current transfer window.

Ideally, Horvath will be brought in to provide a short-term solution following Charles' shoulder injury, so the Owls will not need to rely on an unproven young goalkeeper as they continue to try and compete in the Championship this season.

18-year-old stopper Logan Stretch has featured on the bench for Sheffield Wednesday this season, so the signing of Horvath would prevent Henrik Pedersen being forced to throw the teenager in at the deep end for his first professional appearance.