Ex-Sheffield Wednesday player returns on trial as Owls told to ‘sign him up’ | OneFootball

Former Sheffield Wednesday defender Reece James is back with the Owls during pre-season, and his return has gone down well with supporters.

It has been a busy summer for Sheffield Wednesday following the takeover by David Storch.

Wednesday were relegated from the Championship last season after a nightmare campaign that saw them spend over six months in administration following former owner Dejphon Chansiri's exit, but a new era is underway at Hillsborough after Storch's Arise Capital Partners consortium completed their takeover of the club.

Sheffield Wednesday squad overhaul continues after David Storch takeover

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After making the decision to stick with manager Henrik Pedersen, Storch's first act as Wednesday owner was to implement a proper boardroom structure at the club, with David Bruce arriving as CEO and Simon Wilson taking over as sporting director.

The Owls' new backroom team have wasted no time in getting to work on rebuilding what was a threadbare squad, and they have brought in no fewer than 12 new signings so far this summer.

Joe Lumley, Connal Trueman, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Ricardo Santos, Sil Swinkels, Jordi Liongola, Billy Mitchell, Callum Slattery, Barry Bannan, Louie Barry, Harry Gray and Mason Burstow have all made the move to S6 in recent weeks, but it seems Wednesday's recruitment drive is not complete just yet.

With two weeks to go until the Owls get their League One season underway at Leyton Orient, there are still a number of gaps in the squad that need to be filled, and it has emerged that Pedersen is currently running the rule over a familiar face.

Reece James makes surprise Sheffield Wednesday return for pre-season trial

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As their preparations for the new campaign continue, Wednesday are taking on League Two side Accrington Stanley in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, but there was an unexpected inclusion in the squad for the game at the Wham Stadium.

There may have been an influx of new arrivals at Hillsborough this summer, but it appears the Owls are considering turning back to an old favourite, with the club's official X account revealing that defender Reece James has returned to the club for a trial period.

James initially joined Wednesday on loan from Blackpool in the summer of 2022, and he scored one goal and provided four assists in 34 appearances during his temporary spell to help the club to promotion from League One, with his strike coming in the dramatic play-off semi-final second leg victory over Peterborough United.

The Owls signed James on a permanent basis ahead of their return to the Championship, but he found himself out of favour under both Xisco Munoz and Danny Rohl, and he was released at the end of the 2023-24 season after making just 11 appearances over the course of the campaign.

After his exit from Wednesday, James remained in South Yorkshire as he made the move to Rotherham United, where he scored four goals and registered eight assists in 94 appearances before departing this summer following the Millers' relegation to League Two.

James had a trial at Bradford City earlier in the summer, but it seems Bantams boss Graham Alexander decided against offering him a contract, and the 32-year-old is now back with the Owls as his search for his next club continues.

Sheffield Wednesday fans react to Reece James developments as clear demand issued

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It is unclear at this stage whether James has returned to Wednesday simply to maintain his fitness or whether it is with a view to a potential contract, but supporters were delighted to see the defender back at the club, with many calling for the Owls to tie him down.

However, it is fair to say that not all Wednesday fans were as keen to see James return, with some suggesting that the defender should be left in the past as the club begin a new chapter.

Wednesday are still rather short in the left-back area, with Max Lowe the only real senior option for that position right now if Henrik Pedersen is going to be playing with a back four, and James also provides versatility in midfield too, meaning he could be a smart, cheap addition if the Owls decide to press ahead with offering him a deal.