Chris Wilder names two people who convinced Sheffield United to seal Brentford transfer | OneFootball

Chris Wilder has named the two people who convinced Sheffield United to seal a loan move with Brentford for Romelle Donovan in 2026/27...

After selling Andre Brooks to Norwich City, Sheffield United needed to add to the wide areas. Chris Wilder's side have turned to Brentford and Romelle Donovan to fill the role.

For Chris Wilder and Sheffield United, the 2025/26 campaign has to be viewed as an anomaly rather than the beginning of some sort of decline. After finishing third the previous season, slipping to 13th was a major disappointment, but there is little point dwelling on what went wrong.

Since 2017, Sheffield United have established themselves as one of the Championship's benchmark clubs, either competing for promotion, earning promotion, or playing in the Premier League in every season apart from last term. That sustained success has raised expectations at Bramall Lane.

Romelle Donovan is joining an environment built on winning, even if he has fairly big boots to fill after a strong end to Andre Brooks' 2025/26 campaign. The Brentford winger or attacking midfielder featured nine times for the first-team last season after signing from Birmingham City.

Romelle Donovan seals Sheffield United move as Chris Wilder praises Brentford staff

Action Images

Donovan has already notched two assists for the Bees, including one in the FA Cup against Sheffield United's bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday. He also has one from the bench in the Premier League against Burnley in a game that ended 4-3.

The 19-year-old has seven Championship appearances to his name already, having featured infrequently for Birmingham before Brentford snapped him up for £3 million. Merely existing in mid-table is unlikely to satisfy supporters, meaning the youngster will want to hit the ground running under Wilder.

Wilder must ensure his squad quickly moves on from last season's frustrations and rediscovers the standards that have defined the club for much of the past decade. Given the recent history of Sheffield United, anything less than mounting a serious promotion challenge would again fall below the expectations surrounding the Blades.

Signings like Donovan are hugely exciting on paper, with Wilder explaining who to congratulate for convincing the Blades to seal this move. Speaking to Sheffield United's official website, he said: "We've tracked him for a while, and he arrives with the added endorsement from the likes of Keith Andrews and Jack Lester.

"Who are two individuals we know and respect from their time working here. They obviously rate him highly because they've utilised him in the Premier League last season, so that's testament to his ability and potential."

Andrews worked under Wilder in 2023/24 before taking the set-piece coach role with the Bees. Lester, meanwhile, worked in Sheffield United's academy before leaving when Ruben Selles arrived. He was a part of Sheffield United's backroom staff under Paul Heckingbottom and Wilder but has since been an assistant for Andrews.

Chris Wilder's reputation with loan players should give Brentford hope with Romelle Donovan

Action Images

It's fair to say Wilder has built a reputation as one of the Championship's best managers at developing loan players, making Sheffield United an attractive destination for Premier League clubs to send their best talent to.

The likes of Dean Henderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, James McAtee, Tommy Doyle, and Tyler Bindon all enjoyed productive spells at Bramall Lane in recent years, with each making a significant impact under Wilder's guidance and going on to bigger and better things at a higher level in most cases too.

His ability to improve individuals within a well-defined system has given top-flight clubs confidence that their young talent will receive valuable experience while continuing their development. That proven track record is a major reason why Brentford have entrusted Wilder and Sheffield United with Donovan for the 2026/27 campaign.