Sydie Peck & Vini Souza react to Gus Hamer's emotional Sheffield United message | OneFootball

As Gus Hamer returns to Coventry City after three years at Bramall Lane, there was an emotional response from some of his former team-mates.

A heartfelt message from the former Sheffield United star Gustavo Hamer upon his return to Coventry City has prompted an emotional response from some of his former team-mates.

Sheffield United kicked off their 2025-26 Championship season with a goalless draw against Birmingham City, and one former Blade was noticeable by his absence. After three years at Bramall Lane, Gustavo Hamer has returned to Coventry City as they prepare for their return to the Premier League, and the Blades were missing his creativity as they failed to break down a stubborn Blues defence.

Hamer has been at Bramall Lane for three years, and became a central figure in their on-pitch plans over that time, and the confirmation of his departure for Coventry has prompted an emotional response from a number of his former team-mates, as he prepares for what will be his second-ever season as a Premier League player.

Emotional response from Vini Souza and Sydie Peck as Gustavo Hamer departs Bramall Lane

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The former Blades star Gustavo Hamer has taken to Instagram to say farewell to Sheffield United following three years with the club. In a post featuring video footage of his time with the club, Hamer said, "Playing at Bramall lane every other week in front of you all was an honour and something I don’t take for granted."

Hamer also expressed his gratitude to the players and staff at the club for having made him feel so welcome, saying that, "Thank you to everyone at the club for believing in me, the coaches, the staff behind the scenes who work tirelessly every day and my team-mates."

The replies to the post included messages from Blades players who will clearly be sorry to see him go. Vini Souza, who now plays in Germany with Wolfsburg, left two heart emojis, while midfielder Sydie Peck, who remains at Bramall Lane, added, "Go well my brother will miss you."

They weren't the only former colleagues of Hamer to reply underneath his post. Other players to do so included former striker Oli McBurnie, Tom Cannon and Rhian Brewster.

What fans have been saying about Gustavo Hamer on social media

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The departure of Gustavo Hamer to return to Coventry City has prompted a lot of online comment, so here's what's being said about the player's departure from Bramall Lane.

This Blades fans was affected by the Hamer's goodbye message to the club:

This Sheffield United fan doesn't feel that Coventry are getting back the player that they sold to her club three years ago:

And this Sky Blues fans is grateful to Sheffield United for having kept him in shape over the last three years:

Gustavo Hamer's departure is a big loss for Sheffield United

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With Gustavo Hamer now 29-years-old and entering into the last year of his contract with Sheffield United, it made sense for his club to sell him while he still had a sell-on value, but that's not to say that the winger won't be very much missed at Bramall Lane this season.

The 2025-26 season was a disappointing one for the club. Having only missed out on a return to the Premier League at the end of the 2024-25 season after losing their play-off final to Sunderland, they'd hoped to take advantage of their parachute payments as a springboard for a quick return.

But the decision to sack Chris Wilder proved decisive. His replacement, Ruben Selles, only lasted into September after a calamitous start, and Wilder's return couldn't fix their form to get them back to fighting for promotion, with the team ending the season in 13th place in the table.

Gustavo Hamer enjoyed a reasonably successful season on a personal level, and this triggered Coventry's interest in the player when they secured their return to the Premier League. Hamer spent three years at Coventry before moving to Bramall Lane for a fee reported to be in the region of £15 million in August 2023, Hamer arrived at a club preparing for a return to the Premier League, but they were relegated at the end of the 2023-24 season and haven't returned since.

With his former club having returned to the Premier League, the move makes sense for Hamer. He was a popular presence at The CBS Arena, winning their Player of the Year Award in both 2022 and 2023, and given that he turns thirty years of age next summer, the opportunity to test himself at the highest level again will have been a key part of his thinking.

But Hamer's departure will be keenly felt at Bramall Lane, and there's certainly a case for saying that Sheffield United missed his creativity and work-rate in their opening Championship match of the new season against Birmingham City. With just over two weeks left before the transfer window slams shut again, United now need to fill the gap left by his departure, if he's not already among Wilder's number