Former Sheffield United Academy Standout Earns Big Money Move Which Can Benefit Blades | OneFootball

Sheffield United are set to benefit financially from one of the biggest Championship transfers of the summer after former academy striker Will Lankshear completed a permanent move from Tottenham Hotspur to promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough.

According to The Northern Echo, Middlesbrough have agreed to pay an initial £8 million for the highly-rated forward, with a further £12 million in performance-related add-ons potentially taking the total value of the transfer to an impressive £20 million.

While Lankshear never represented the Blades at senior level, his move to the Riverside Stadium will still bring welcome news to Bramall Lane. When Sheffield United sold the prolific youngster to Tottenham Hotspur for around £2 million, the club wisely negotiated a sell-on clause as part of the agreement. That clause now means United are expected to receive a small cash injection.

Will Lankshear’s Rise From the Sheffield United Academy

Lankshear’s rise has been an impressive one. During his time in the Sheffield United academy, the striker built a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting young goalscorers, scoring 38 goals in 48 games for all age groups, before earning his move to Tottenham. He continued that remarkable form in north London, scoring consistently for Spurs’ youth teams, finding the net 25 times in 26 appearances in 2023/24, and earning plenty of praise for his intelligent movement, finishing ability and work ethic.

His performances eventually led to opportunities in senior football. During the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, Lankshear joined West Bromwich Albion on a short-term loan in the Championship. Although he made 11 appearances, he was unable to find the back of the net as he adjusted to the physical demands of senior football.

Rather than allowing that spell to define him, the striker responded positively the following season. A season-long loan with Oxford United gave him the regular minutes he needed, and he enjoyed a breakthrough campaign despite the club’s struggles. Lankshear featured 44 times in all competitions for Oxford, scoring 11 goals while also contributing two assists. His performances stood out in a difficult season for the U’s, even if his efforts were ultimately not enough to prevent their relegation from the Championship.

Former Blades Academy Standout to Shine in the Championship This Season

That campaign has convinced Middlesbrough that the 21-year-old is ready for the next stage of his development. Kim Hellberg’s side have made no secret of their ambitions to compete for automatic promotion after failing in the play-offs last term, and Lankshear is expected to play a key role as Boro look to strengthen their attacking options.

Many Blades fans remember Lankshear as one of the brightest talents to emerge from the academy in recent years, and while he left Bramall Lane before making a first-team breakthrough, there remains a sense of pride in seeing another academy graduate continue his journey at a high level.

Sheffield United’s foresight in including a sell-on clause when selling Lankshear to Tottenham now looks like extremely smart business, even despite some United supporter’s complaints over his sale at the time.