Sheffield United struck gold with the record-breaking £4 million transfer deal of John Egan.
In the summer of 2018, Sheffield United signed John Egan from Brentford for £4 million, setting a club record at the time.
The Irish international went on to make over a century of Blades appearances, becoming a legendary servant for the South Yorkshire side and cementing his place in Bramall Lane history.
His arrival sparked great enthusiasm after earning a reputation for himself in League One when playing for Gillingham, where the defender was selected to the 2015/16 League One PFA Team of the Year.
Egan then continued his outstanding form by joining for Brentford, where he made 67 appearances over two seasons.
When asked about recruiting Egan from Brentford, former Blades manager Chris Wilder said, “John has been our number one target in that position throughout the summer, it has been going on for a while, and we’ve kept it close to our chests because we’ve had to.”
Egan’s instant impact at Bramall Lane
After six seasons at Sheffield United, Egan’s first season was quite successful under Chris Wilder, with 44 league appearances.
The Irishman produced one goal and one assist at the top of the pitch and was rock solid in the defensive third, enabling his new club finish second in the Championship and qualify for the Premier League the following season.
| John Egan Sheffield United league appearances, as per Transfermarkt | ||
|---|---|---|
| Season | Appearances | Minutes played |
| 2023/24 | 6 | 484′ |
| 2022/23 | 45 | 3,955′ |
| 2021/22 | 46 | 4,140′ |
| 2020/21 | 31 | 2,630′ |
| 2019/20 | 36 | 3,189′ |
| 2018/19 | 44 | 3,910′ |
Slotting into Wilder’s back three tactics would take some getting used to for Egan, but the defender adapted to the Blades’ system with ease.
After spending his first season learning the ropes of his new role, Egan enjoyed another fantastic season in the Premier League, helping the Blades to a surprise top-half finish.
Egan immediately became a fan favourite in South Yorkshire thanks to his consistent availability for selection under Wilder and strong defensive performances.
Egan proved to be £4 million steal
With Egan making a solid start in a Blades shirt, the club record sum of £4 million at the time appears to have been a bargain for the centre-back.
Having broken the club-record transfer fee on several occasions since Egan’s arrival, the dependable defender could be considered one of the club’s most successful signings for the price, with expensive incomings such as Rhian Brewster from Liverpool for £23.5 million failing to live up to expectations at Bramall Lane.
Despite a brutally disastrous next season in which the Blades finished at the basement of the Premier League, Egan’s performances remained consistent even after Wilder’s departure.
With Egan lacking for consistent game time near the end of his Sheffield United career due to injuries, he eventually moved to Burnley in the summer of 2024.
Egan’s name will be remembered at Bramall Lane for his outstanding contribution to the club over six seasons, making the Blades’ £4 million purchase of the defender a golden opportunity.
Leave a Reply