£4m Sheffield United transfer was "worth every penny" and "doesn’t get spoken about enough" | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit has given his verdict on the £4m fee to sign John Egan in 2018

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

John Egan proved an important member of the Sheffield United squad when he joined from Brentford in the 2018 summer transfer window.

It was reported that the Blades agreed a £4 million deal with the London outfit to bring the centre-back to Bramall Lane.

Chris Wilder’s side had earned a 10th place finish upon their return to the Championship prior to Egan’s arrival.

The Yorkshire outfit earned automatic promotion in the centre-back’s first season with the club, in which he played 44 of their 46 games.

Egan played a total of 208 times in the league for Sheffield United before his departure in 2024, including on 73 occasions in the Premier League.

John Egan deserves greater Sheffield United recognition

When asked if the £4 million was worth every penny, FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy claimed he is an overlooked great signing from the club’s recent past.

While he noted other great deals the Blades have pulled off, and for much cheaper, he believes that the Ireland international isn’t talked about enough for how good of a servant he was to the team.

“John Egan was a brilliant signing for Sheffield United,” Jimmy told Football League World.

“Doesn’t often get talked about because he did come for what’s a reasonable fee, £4 million is a big fee at Championship level, certainly was then, but he’s worth every penny.

“I think he gets overlooked because of other deals that are seen as more financially prudent, like John Fleck came in on a free, Mark Duffy was free, David McGoldrick was free, Enda Stevens was free.

“Jack O’Connell came in for £500,000, even recently Callum O’Hare’s come in for free, there’s been some brilliant signings under Chris Wilder and at Sheffield United in the recent past.

“John Egan doesn’t get spoken about enough, in my opinion, because he held it all together in the middle of those three.

“A brilliant, brilliant player, captained the side in his later years.

“I think it was the right time for him to move on when he did, but a fantastic servant to the club and will always be fondly remembered at Sheffield United.”

Egan played 36 of Sheffield United’s 38 league games when they earned a ninth place finish in the Premier League under Wilder in 2019/20.

While injuries hampered the end of his time at Bramall Lane, he was also still crucial to their second promotion of his stint with the club, playing 45 of their 46 fixtures in the Championship in 2022/23.

The 33-year-old went on to Burnley and then Hull City following his exit from Sheffield United, and he has earned his place as a key part of the Tigers’ first team squad.

John Egan signing was a masterstroke for Sheffield United

The £4 million fee to sign Egan was sizable at the time, but it was entirely justified based on what he achieved during his time at the club.

Egan slotted in nicely to that back three system that Wilder enjoyed, staying centrally while his defensive partners pushed further up as part of their overlapping style.

He was key to two different promotion campaigns, as well as a ninth place finish in the Premier League that remains a high point for the team.