Michael Ihiekwe transfer development emerges after Sheffield Wednesday exit.

Michael Ihiekwe, a Sheffield Wednesday defender, is reportedly a target for League One clubs this summer.

The 32-year-old will no longer play home games at Hillsborough starting next season. He, along with six teammates, were released on Wednesday.

The Owls had until Saturday to publish their retained/released list, but they completed it well ahead of schedule, announcing their decisions to fans on Thursday evening.

Stuart Armstrong, Marvin Johnson, Pol Valentin, and Mallik Wilks are among the other notable players set to leave the club as free agents this summer. Wednesday extended the contracts of Anthony Musaba, Michael Smith, and Josh Windass with an additional one-year option. Barry Bannan, Akin Famewo, and Callum Patterson have been offered new contracts.

Michael Ihiekwe is attracting League One interest.

Wednesday’s policy of not disclosing player contract lengths makes it difficult for fans to predict who will stay and who will leave the club. Before the retained/released list, The Star reported that Ihiekwe was set to leave the club. However, he is expected to have many suitors this summer.

According to The Star, several third-tier sides are interested in signing the promotion-winning defender.

Ihiekwe was made available for transfer in the January window after struggling to break into Danny Rohl’s starting lineup, but he finished the season in much better form, being nominated for the Championship’s Player of the Month award in March.

 

Wednesday’s manager faces an uncertain future. Given the publication of the retained/released list, he must have had some involvement. However, he has dropped several hints implying that, like Ihiekwe, he will not be at Hillsborough when the 2025/26 season begins.

Michael Ihiekwe’s League One promotion credentials justify the interest in him.

The value of having players who have been there and done it, as some may dismiss the phrase, cannot be overstated, regardless of skill level. The 32-year-old has been promoted to the Championship three times.

Of course, his winning experience at the level isn’t the only reason why third-tier teams are interested in signing Ihiekwe. Even though he is nearing the end of his career, his nomination for Championship Player of the Month demonstrates that there is still plenty of talent to be extracted.

A drop in level makes a lot of sense to him. He’ll return to being a key figure on the defensive line, rather than being in and out of the lineup as he has been the previous two seasons.