Leicester City are the ones laughing: Sheffield United's £10m Tom Cannon deal isn't working out | OneFootball

Sheffield United’s signing of Tom Cannon has yet to justify the hype

When Sheffield United secured the services of Republic of Ireland striker Tom Cannon from Leicester City for a reported £10 million fee in January, it was heralded as a significant coup.

At just 22 years of age, Cannon arrived with Championship experience, Premier League promotion credentials, and a growing international profile.

Manager Chris Wilder described his arrival as a “big statement” that would both excite supporters and strengthen United’s promotion bid.

Yet just months into the Blades' 2025/26 campaign, the optimism has given way to doubt. Cannon’s performances since signing have been underwhelming, leaving Leicester looking like the real winners of the deal.

While the Blades invested heavily in what they hoped would be their attacking talisman, the forward has so far struggled to make any tangible impact at Bramall Lane.

Tom Cannon’s struggles highlight Sheffield United’s big transfer gamble

Cannon’s reputation was built on a successful loan spell with Stoke City, where he registered 11 goals in 25 appearances in the first half of the 2024/25 season.

That form persuaded Sheffield United to take the plunge in January, even though the striker arrived carrying an ankle injury. At the time, Wilder praised Cannon’s pedigree and potential, suggesting he would be a central figure in the club’s long-term vision.

But since his move, the striker has yet to live up to either his price tag or his billing. Across 17 appearances in the second half of last season, Cannon found the net just once.

Those statistics might have been attributed to his injury troubles and a disrupted adaptation period. The player himself insisted during pre-season that fans would finally see the “real me” this year, promising a renewed sense of sharpness and confidence after a summer of recovery.

However, his early-season output has only intensified concerns. In 152 minutes of football across three games - two in the Championship and one in the Carabao Cup - Cannon has managed just one shot on target.

Against Bristol City on the opening day, he played 33 minutes without registering a single meaningful chance. In the cup defeat to Birmingham, he endured a particularly poor outing: the fewest touches of any outfield player who completed 90 minutes and the highest number of duels lost. His cameo against Swansea a week later yielded just five touches and no shots.

For a player who was meant to lead the line and provide a consistent goal threat, the numbers are troubling. Cannon is not merely out of form: he is looking peripheral, unable to impose himself in games or justify the marquee status bestowed upon him.

Leicester City emerge as the real winners from Sheffield United deal

Leicester’s decision to cash in on Cannon now looks increasingly shrewd. The Foxes, then promoted back to the Premier League, parted with a player who was not central to their plans but commanded a sizeable transfer fee.

From their perspective, the £10 million windfall strengthened their financial position while removing a developing talent who, to date, has not proved capable of delivering at the level.

For Sheffield United, however, the deal is beginning to resemble an expensive miscalculation. Supporters were promised a striker with the physicality, finishing instinct and hunger to drive the club’s ambitions forward.

What they have seen instead is a player still grappling with fitness, form and confidence issues.

While it is too early to completely write off Cannon - he is, after all, only 22 - the early evidence suggests United may have overpaid for potential that is far from being realised.

The stakes are high. Having invested a significant portion of their transfer budget, United need Cannon to prove his worth quickly. Otherwise, the deal risks becoming a symbol of waste at a time when every decision in the transfer market is crucial.

For now, Leicester can look on with satisfaction, secure in the knowledge that they extracted maximum value from a player who has yet to show he can handle the demands of a big move.