The Sheffield Wednesday players who will leave in 2026 - John Textor or Mike Ashley would need to be prepared | OneFootball

The players who could walk away from Sheffield Wednesday as free agents in 2026

Sheffield Wednesday are enduring a tumultuous period behind the scenes due to financial issues.

Owner Dejphon Chansiri has received a lot of criticism from supporters for his running of the Yorkshire outfit, with cashflow problems proving a major concern.

Players have gone unpaid on time in five of the last seven months, which has led to some terminating their contracts and moving on to rival teams.

However, plenty have remained despite these financial issues, but as the campaign drags on their expiring contracts loom ever larger on Chansiri, especially with the likes of John Textor and Mike Ashley being linked with a potential takeover at Hillsborough.

Here we look at the four Sheffield Wednesday players with contracts set to expire in 2026…

Max Lowe

Max Lowe joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2024, making the controversial decision to swap one side of the Steel City for another after his exit from Sheffield United.

The 28-year-old was a regular presence for the side in his first year at Hillsborough, making 34 appearances as Danny Rohl’s team finished 12th in the Championship table.

However, it was feared that he would opt to terminate his contract early during the summer when late payment issues plagued the first team squad.

Lowe did ultimately remain with the Owls, but this could still prove to be his final year with the club if an agreement can’t be found to extend his current deal beyond 2026.

Jamal Lowe

Jamal Lowe is another player that joined Sheffield Wednesday during the 2024 summer window, arriving as a free agent following the end of his time at Bournemouth.

He has proven a key member of the first team through this tumultuous period, featuring regularly in Henrik Pedersen’s side despite only making 24 appearances in the league in the previous campaign.

But his future at Hillsborough is uncertain as financial issues continue to rumble on in the background, with his contract set to expire next year at the end of the campaign.

Dominic Iorfa

Dominic Iorfa is now one of the long-standing members of the current Sheffield Wednesday side, having joined in January 2019 from Wolves.

The defender has made over 170 league appearances in that time, and remains a crucial part of the club under Pedersen.

However, his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, and it remains uncertain whether it will be possible to retain him as long as Chansiri remains at the helm.

Barry Bannan

Barry Bannan is club captain at Hillsborough, but his future was in severe doubt going into the current season.

A new contract wasn’t agreed until August, just in time for the campaign to get underway.

Bannan is a crucial figure at Hillsborough, and is a favourite among supporters for the role he’s played in the team since he joined in 2015 from Crystal Palace.

Fans will be keen to see the 35-year-old remain with the club beyond this season, but his future will once again be in doubt in 2026, and it’s likely only a takeover will help find a swift resolution to his expiring contract.