Barry Bannan makes Sheffield Wednesday transfer admission as talisman signs new contract.
Barry Bannan has today committed his future to Sheffield Wednesday.
Sheffield Wednesday’s skipper Barry Bannan has pledged his future to the club by signing a fresh contract amidst financial uncertainties at Hillsborough.
The 35-year -old midfielder, out of contract prior to this commitment, has shown his loyalty to the Owls, despite the squad and staff facing delayed wages for the third consecutive month.
While the specifics of Bannan’s new contract remain under wraps, the Scottish player acknowledged that he had other options on the table but chose to stay, influenced by his family’s attachment to the club.
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Bannan expressed his sentiments: “This club is a big part of me and my family, who are with me here today as I’m signing.”
He continued: “They will always stand by me with whatever decision I make and I’ve decided to stay.”
Reflecting on the emotional week leading up to his decision, he shared: “With the season getting closer, this last week has been tough because there was interest from elsewhere and I had a lot to think about.”
Family discussions played a crucial role, especially the reaction from his daughter Elsie, as Bannan recounted: “We had a lot of conversations as a family and when I told my daughter Elsie that I might be leaving she started crying.”
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He added a touching detail about his daughter’s response to his final decision: “Then last night when I told her I was staying she started crying again. I asked her why and she said they are just happy tears.”
Having started his English football journey with Aston Villa, Bannan moved to Wednesday from Crystal Palace in 2015, with loan stints at Derby, Blackpool, Leeds, and Bolton along the way.
His dedication to Sheffield Wednesday is reflected in his 447 appearances, earning him the eighth spot on the club’s all-time appearance list.
Bannan’s contract renewal comes in the wake of recent turmoil at Hillsborough, with players and staff refusing to participate in a planned private match against Burnley last Saturday.
The cancellation of this game has heightened concerns within the English Football League about the club’s ability to kick off their season opener against Leicester on 10th August, given the escalating financial crisis under owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Sheffield Wednesday have been hit with multiple EFL embargoes for violating financial regulations, leaving them unable to bring in any new faces during the summer transfer window.
With only 16 senior players currently on their books following the exits of Djeidi Gassama, Anthony Musaba, Josh Windass and Michael Smith, the club is in a precarious position.
Windass and Smith were released by mutual agreement, enabling them to sign for Wrexham and Preston respectively.
Further strain was added to the situation when July’s wages for players and staff went unpaid, piling more pressure on Chansiri, who maintains he’s open to selling the club at the right price.
He recently disclosed that he turned down a £40 million offer from a consortium, while negotiations with other potential buyers have reached a standstill.
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