Michail Antonio drops fresh Sheffield Wednesday revelation | OneFootball

Michail Antonio has opened up on his move from Sheffield Wednesday to Nottingham Forest in 2014

Michail Antonio has revealed why he left Sheffield Wednesday in favour of Nottingham Forest back in 2014.

The versatile ace became best known for his time with West Ham United, who he represented in 10 different Premier League seasons, having moved to East London in 2015.

He was released by the Hammers in the summer of 2025, eight months on from having a serious car crash, after which he has made no more appearances in English football.

The 36-year-old joined Qatar Stars League side Al-Sailya on a short-term deal in the winter and went on to make four appearances for them.

Michail Antonio makes surprise Sheffield Wednesday exit reveal

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Antonio represented Sheffield Wednesday in both League One and the Championship, helping them win promotion from the third tier to the second tier by scoring five goals in 14 league appearances during the 2011/12 campaign, while initially on loan from Reading.

He permanently joined the Owls in the summer of 2012 and spent two seasons with the Hillsborough club before moving to Nottingham Forest.

During Antonio's two campaigns as a permanent player, the South Yorkshire club solidified their Championship status, finishing 18th and then 16th.

The S6 outfit would go on to finish in the second-tier play-offs in both 2016 and 2017, but winning promotion to the Premier League was a feat which ultimately evaded them.

Antonio's best full season with the Owls was the 2012/13 campaign in which he scored eight goals in the Championship, notching a further one in the EFL Cup.

He was more prolific for Forest, producing an impressive return of 14 goals and 12 assists in the 2014/15 second-tier season, which impressed West Ham, who signed him in 2015.

Meanwhile, discussing his Wednesday exit on the LIFEJACKET YouTube channel, Antonio said: "I was so settled. I was happy to be there. I probably would just, if it was my way, I probably would have stayed there forever.

"Stuart Gray came to me, and he went to me, 'We’re selling you'. I went, 'What are you talking about?' 'Stuart Pearce wants you at Nottingham Forest.'

"I went, 'But I’m happy here, I don’t want to leave.' He went, 'No, you’re too comfortable here, we need the money to sign a couple other players, so you have to go.

"And I went, 'Do I not get a choice in this?' He said, 'You do get a choice in this, but I feel you’re too settled. For you to go off and be better, you need to go play with better players and to elevate yourself."

Sheffield Wednesday will fondly remember Michail Antonio's early Owls exploits, Sheffield United won't

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Antonio spent two full seasons as a permanent Wednesday player, but the Owls faithful will always have particularly fond memories of his loan stint at Hillsborough Stadium during the second half of the 2011/12 League One season.

His relatively strong return of five goals in 14 third-tier appearances helped the S6 club win automatic promotion at Steel City rivals Sheffield United's expense, and the Bramall Lane club went on to lose in the play-offs.

The eventual Jamaica international's debut for Wednesday saw them defeat United 1-0, while he scored two goals and registered an assist in his second Owls appearance, a 4-1 triumph over Bury.

He also provided the Hillsborough Stadium faithful with further memories that season with a further goal against Bournemouth and a late winner against Carlisle United.