Sheffield United set to sign Premier League midfielder | OneFootball

Sheffield United have reportedly agreed a loan deal with Brentford for Romelle Donovan

Sheffield United are in the midst of a very important summer transfer window; their first in the second tier without Premier League parachute payments in eight years.

The Blades are, therefore, having to cut back on costs and trim what was a bloated squad that ended the season, while also ensuring that Chris Wilder has enough to engineer a push back towards being a play-off side after last season's disappointment.

Sheffield United had to reluctantly wave goodbye to Andre Brooks, after the Blades academy graduate was the subject of an initial £8 million bid, which could rise to above £10 million with add-ons from Norwich City, in a move that helped plug that financial gap.

The sale frustrated a lot of the fanbase at Bramall Lane, not only because the 22-year-old was one of their own, but he was being pencilled in to have a real breakout year after emerging as a starting wideman for Wilder in the popular manager's third spell at the club.

Now, all eyes are on who will replace Brooks, and with an onus on utilising the loan market well this summer due to their financial restrictions, Sheffield United have turned to Brentford to secure the services of Romelle Donovan for the season.

Sheffield United reportedly agree loan move for Romelle Donovan

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According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, Sheffield United have agreed a loan move for Donovan, with the 19-year-old set to make the switch to Bramall Lane for the year.

It would mark a return to the EFL for the winger, who came through the academy at Birmingham City, making 10 appearances during the 2023/24 campaign, becoming the fifth-youngest debutant for the Blues when he came off the bench against Hull City in October 2023.

Oddly enough, the relegation to League One that year didn't propel Donovan further into the first team, and after a failed loan at Burton Albion, he was loaned to Brentford in January 2025, who made the deal permanent last summer after he scored 11 and assisted 10 in just 15 B team games.

Donovan was on the fringes of the first team at the Gtech Community Stadium last season, making nine appearances in all competitions for Keith Andrews' side, including four off the bench in the Premier League.

The 19-year-old is evidently ready for some more first team action, and Brentford have chosen Sheffield United as the side to help oversee his progression for the year, with the view of becoming a regular for the Bees in the near future.

How Sheffield United fans have reacted to Romelle Donovan loan breakthrough

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Sheffield United fans are still a little raw from the deal that saw Brooks leave for a Championship rival, as it implied that the club perhaps aren't going in the right direction towards a Premier League return.

There was always going to be pressure on who would come in to replace the 22-year-old, and not many people know what to expect from Donovan, which doesn't instil confidence that he'd be able to replicate what Brooks may do at Carrow Road this year.

"He'll either change our lives or get sent back in January," one Blades fan wrote in the replies to Mike McGrath on X, inferring a really enigmatic wide option for Chris Wilder this season.

"Does he improve us? We need starters," another said, but with Donovan regularly making Premier League matchday squads last season, he arguably would be one of the starting wingers at Bramall Lane this coming term.

The vast majority of Brentford fans online are overly positive about this news, with it expected that Sheffield United could provide the perfect environment for the 19-year-old to bridge that gap between being a reserve player in the top-flight and being one who starts each week.

"Brilliant loan for him, hopefully he smashes it," one Brentford fan said on X. "Genuinely fantastic loan and shows how high our expectations are of him," another added.

So, overall, while Brentford fans are hopeful that Donovan can be a smash hit at Bramall Lane, some Blades fans are understandably a bit apprehensive about replacing a popular winger in Brooks with someone who has just 28 senior appearances in his career.

But all signs last season pointed to the 19-year-old just needing a chance to showcase his talent; he just couldn't get that in the first team regularly under Keith Andrews. If given the opportunity under Chris Wilder, he could be an apt replacement for Brooks.