Nathaniel Chalobah, Charlton Athletic twist causes a stir at Sheffield Wednesday | OneFootball

The midfielder's latest appearance could mean he plays his football away from Hillsborough next season.

Sheffield Wednesday lost a collective of players as free agents earlier this summer as their contracts at Hillsborough came to an end.

One of those was Nathaniel Chalobah, who made 31 appearances for the Owls over two seasons after joining in the summer of 2024 following his release from West Brom.

While the 31-year-old was included on Wednesday's released list alongside Dominic Iorfa and Marvelous Nakamba, Henrik Pedersen left the door open for the midfielder, who has taken part in pre-season training with the South Yorkshire club.

Now there have been significant developments involving the player and Championship outfit Charlton Athletic, which could hamper his potential return to Hillsborough.

Nathaniel Chalobah plays as trialist for Charlton Athletic amid Sheffield Wednesday talks

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Relegation from the Championship was always going to bring significant changes, but even more so for Sheffield Wednesday, who needed a squad overhaul.

The Owls have already made a host of signings, with Barry Bannan the most eye-catching for obvious reasons, while Louie Barry and Harry Gray are among the other intriguing additions.

Last week, the Owls held exploratory talks with Chalobah over the plausibility of re-signing him, although nothing had been decided, according to The Star's Alex Miller.

However, South London Sport's Richard Crawley reported yesterday that the 31-year-old appeared for Charlton as a trialist in their pre-season friendly with Colchester United.

Crawley noted during his live X updates that the one-capped England midfielder played well, with the caveat that it was against League Two opposition after being subbed off on 65 minutes.

Miller has since reported that the door now remains ajar for Chalobah's potential return to Hillsborough, and he now faces a decision on his next move.

What next for Chalobah and Wednesday?

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Given that Chalobah has appeared as a trialist for the Addicks, it would be safe to assume that the player is keeping his options open over his next move.

From a Wednesday perspective, the midfielder has not had the impact hoped for at Hillsborough as injuries have limited his availability over two seasons.

Moreover, it is believed that the 31-year-old was among the club's highest-earning players, so having him off the wage bill would be financially positive.

While he was unable to produce his best football for the Owls, he did show flashes of quality, and if he could remain fit in League One, then he possesses the quality and experience to be one of the leading talents in the division.

It would make sense for Sheffield Wednesday to remain relaxed over the player's situation as there are clear positives and negatives to his potential return.

How Sheffield Wednesday fans have reacted to Chalobah news

The news has not been taken badly by Owls supporters, but none has suggested that the player's future lies away from Hillsborough.

Unsurprisingly, many of the Wednesday faithful have pointed out his woeful injury record despite his significant ability.