How much Sheffield Wednesday would save on wages if £2.5m star leaves in January | OneFootball

Ike Ugbo has been tipped for a January exit from Sheffield Wednesday by FLW's fan pundit

Ike Ugbo has been tipped for a Sheffield Wednesday exit in the upcoming January transfer window.

FLW’s Owls fan pundit Patrick McKenna recently suggested that the 27-year-old could be cashed in on when the market opens in the new year.

The Yorkshire outfit’s financial situation has improved slightly in the weeks since going into administration, but the sale of the £2.5 million player could help raise some additional funds that may prove quite important.

The Canada international has featured 15 times in the Championship so far for Henrik Pedersen’s side, but has failed to register a goal or an assist.

Here we use estimated figures from Capology to see how much Sheffield Wednesday could save in wages by getting Ugbo off their books in January…

Ike Ugbo’s Sheffield Wednesday salary

Ugbo made the switch to Hillsborough on an initial loan basis, arriving from Troyes in the 2024 January transfer window.

The player signed on a permanent basis after helping the club remain in the Championship under Danny Rohl.

The 27-year-old played 18 times as the team finished 20th in the table, before a £2.5 million agreement was struck with the French side.

Ugbo’s contract runs until the summer of 2028, meaning he still has over two years remaining on his deal.

The forward is one of the best paid players in the Sheffield Wednesday squad as a result, earning an estimated £20,000 per week. If he was to leave permanently in January, there could be a rough saving of £2.6m on Ugbo's wages, plus a further £650k in potential bonuses.

However, if it was a loan exit, the Owls might be expected to pick up a percentage of those wages.

Despite the hefty salary, Ugbo has struggled for form since completing his permanent switch to the Owls.

While he scored seven from his 18 appearances on loan, he has yet to score again for the Championship side.

Ugbo didn’t find the back of the net once from 34 appearances in the second tier last season, and his struggles in front of goal have continued under Pedersen.

With the January window almost upon us, and the financial situation at Hillsborough still unclear, perhaps it might be best for all parties if a deal was found that allowed him to move on.

Sheffield Wednesday’s highest earners

Ugbo isn’t quite the highest earner in Pedersen’s side at the moment, with that honour instead going to Barry Bannan.

The club captain receives £25,000 per week, putting him ahead of the likes of Yan Valery, Nathaniel Chalobah, Dominic Iorfa and Ugbo, who are all on £20,000 per week.

If Ugbo were to depart, it could save the Owls up to half a million for the second half of the campaign, with his annual wages amounting to just over £1 million.

While Sheffield Wednesday are unable to pay fees to sign new players, that money could be used to bring in free agents, which could prove just as important.

The Yorkshire outfit may be all but relegated at this point, but the January market could still be used to improve the squad and better prepare for the seasons ahead.

It remains to be seen whether there will be a market for Ugbo, who will also want to be somewhere that can give him regular game time ahead of the World Cup next summer, but his sale could generate some value for Sheffield Wednesday amid their takeover uncertainty.