Billy Sharp confirms 2026/27 intention as Sheffield United return talk swirls | OneFootball

The veteran forward made a significant contribution during his time with the Blades.

Sheffield United supporters will be expecting vast improvements at Bramall Lane after a disappointing Championship campaign.

The Blades were among the favourites for promotion, having fallen short in the play-off final the season prior, but instead it was a chaotic year that did improve with a 13th-placed finish.

The South Yorkshire outfit have already offloaded several household names and have started their recruitment process by bringing in Romelle Donovan on loan from Brentford.

There has also been talk that a former Sheffield United player could return to Bramall Lane three years after leaving on a free transfer.

Billy Sharp discusses future amid Sheffield United links

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Billy Sharp is a free agent this summer after leaving League One outfit Doncaster Rovers, where he bagged 14 goals in all competitions last season.

The forward came through the youth system at Bramall Lane and scored 129 goals in 377 appearances for the Blades during several spells in South Yorkshire.

Sharp is widely regarded as a Sheffield United legend, having risen through the ranks to become a prolific goalscorer while wearing the captain's armband in the process.

He departed the club in 2023 for LA Galaxy and has since played for Hull City and Doncaster, where he played a part in their promotion in 2025.

In May, the Sheffield Star reported that a coaching role could be on the table for the 40-year-old and that conversations about the idea had taken place earlier in the campaign.

However, such a move does not appear imminent following the Englishman's latest comments.

"I want to play on. I want to carry on," Sharp said via the Sheffield Star after taking part in the club's annual charity golf day.

"I scored 14 goals last season and finished with a hat-trick. I'm a free agent, and I want to play football. I love football.

"If something's there that's right for me and my family, that's the thing. It's got to be right for me and the family because I've been selfish in my career, which I think you have to be. My family's moved away with me an awful lot.

“Obviously, we went to America last time [with LA Galaxy], and I don't regret that one. But if it's not to be, then I've had a great career, and I'll move on to the next thing."

Why Sharp's return to Bramall Lane feels imminent

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Given the special bond Sharp has with Sheffield United, it feels only a matter of time until he returns to Bramall Lane in a coaching role.

The forward has spoken passionately about his time at the South Yorkshire club, stating that the feeling in the dressing room was like nothing he had ever experienced in football.

While the 40-year-old is eager for one last move, he is nearing the end of his career, and he will surely be contemplating what he wants to do after he hangs up his boots.

The Blades would be wise to appoint Sharp in a coaching role, as his experience at the club and eye for goal would certainly help the forwards at Bramall Lane.

If Chris Wilder were to be there on the striker's potential return, then he could learn from one of the best coaches in their recent past with a view to eventually becoming a manager himself.

Of course, there is every chance that Sharp does not receive the offer he wants to carry on playing next season, and if that does not happen, then a return to Sheffield United could come sooner rather than later.