Sheffield United have confirmed the release of four first-team players at the end of their contracts on 30 June 2023.
Having graduated through the club’s academy and enjoyed two previous spells at the club, striker – Billy Sharp will leave the Blades having scored 116 goals in 311 appearances across all competitions within his third spell at the club since he returned in Summer 2015.
During this stint, Sharp helped the club to three promotions in total; in which the club were promoted as League One champions in 2017 before they went on to twice secure promotion to the Premier League in 2019 and 2023 respectively, amidst relegation from the top-flight in 2020-21 season.
Defenders, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and Kyron Gordon will also depart the club at the conclusion of their contracts.
O’Connell joined the club from Brentford in July 2016 and has been part of the Blades’ three promotion-clinching campaigns like Sharp, although he hasn’t played since September 2020 due to a serious knee injury which has prevented him from making any senior appearances since.
The centre-back therefore leaves Bramall Lane having scored nine goals in 177 appearances in all competitions, during which he netted the goal which sealed promotion to the top-flight in a 2-0 home win against Ipswich Town in April 2019.
Stevens meanwhile joined the Blades in May 2017 on a free transfer from Portsmouth and has scored nine goals in 200 appearances, during which he helped the club to two promotions.
Gordon’s departure meanwhile comes after he made just two senior appearances this season, compared to eight outings last season for the academy graduate who failed to find the net in 10 overall first-team appearances.
Sheffield United have also confirmed that they have exercised options to retain the following players; Wes Foderingham, Oliver Norwood, Oliver McBurnie and Ismaila Coulibaly, whilst talks are ongoing concerning new contracts for John Fleck, Jack Robinson and Ben Osborn.
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