Sheffield Wednesday have just found new reason to love Barry Bannan | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been given a new reason to love Barry Bannan after his return to Hillsborough from Millwall...

Barry Bannan's return to Sheffield Wednesday already felt like one of the feel-good stories of the summer, but Owls supporters have now been handed another reason to appreciate just how influential their talisman remains.

Few players have embodied a football club quite like Barry Bannan has over the past decade. Even after his brief spell at Millwall between January and June, which was a move that helped Sheffield Wednesday ease their financial situation during an incredibly difficult period, there was always a sense that Hillsborough was where he belonged.

The captain's return was greeted with obvious delight by supporters, not simply because of what he can still offer on the pitch, but because of everything he represents off it. Bannan has become synonymous with Sheffield Wednesday, setting standards around the training ground and acting as an ambassador for the club through some of its toughest moments.

It now appears his influence stretches even further than many supporters may have realised, as revealed by new signing Billy Mitchell. Since arriving from Millwall, Mitchell stated that Bannan played a key role in convincing him to make the move to Hillsborough, and that only adds to the importance of bringing the veteran midfielder back this summer.

Billy Mitchell has Barry Bannan praise for Sheffield Wednesday move

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Bannan has made clear he is delighted to be reunited with Mitchell, with The Star reporting that the midfielder arrives having reportedly turned down numerous contract offers at The Den in order to sign for Sheffield Wednesday, despite the club preparing for life in League One.

That is no small achievement given the uncertainty surrounding the Owls over recent months, and it speaks volumes about the pull they can still generate. Having Bannan selling the vision of the club undoubtedly helps, too.

There are few people better placed to explain what Sheffield Wednesday means, what the fanbase expects, and what the ambitions remain, even after relegation. Players naturally value conversations with someone who has lived through the highs and lows of a football club rather than simply listening to recruitment pitches.

If Mitchell was seeking reassurance over the direction Wednesday are heading, there was no better person to provide it. The 25-year-old operates at the base of midfield and will play alongside Bannan yet again, which will absolutely help him settle in. He made 196 appearances for the team he came through the ranks of.

It highlights, from a footballing perspective, that this also looks like a very smart piece of business. Mitchell has consistently shown during his time with Millwall that he possesses the energy, tenacity, and the ball-playing ability to thrive in midfield. Those qualities could make him one of the standout players in League One.

Bannan is technical but he turns 37 later this year, which is why Mitchell and Callum Slattery will be so vital. In fact, more midfielders are surely likely to sign, but Wednesday fans have their club legend to thank for one of them.

Sheffield Wednesday's midfield takes shape as promotion ambition clear

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The third tier is often won by teams that dominate the middle of the park, with Wednesday now having the foundations of a midfield capable of doing exactly that with the recently-signed trio, especially after the exit of Svante Ingelsson.

Alongside Bannan's experience, leadership, and technical quality, Mitchell is a midfielder that offers legs, intensity, and a willingness to do the less glamorous side of the game. It has the makings of a partnership that could give this Sheffield Wednesday side an excellent platform to launch another promotion push in 2026/27.

Naturally, they are keen to bounce back at the first time of asking. They have now had four stints in League One since they last played Premier League football. They came straight back up in 2004/05 but 2010-2012 and 2021-23 both required two years in the third tier. Bannan, Mitchell, and co. won't want that to repeat this time around.

There is real positivity at Wednesday, though. Bannan's return already looked like an emotional boost for Sheffield Wednesday. Now, knowing he has also helped secure one of their most eye-catching signings of the window, supporters have another reminder that his value extends far beyond what he produces during 90 minutes on the pitch.