Sheffield Wednesday shake‑up: Ugbo leaves, Windass and Bannan react

Ike Ugbo has been sent on a season‑long loan to Cypriot side Apollon Limassol, ending his stay at Sheffield Wednesday as former teammate Josh Windass and current midfielder Barry Bannan liked the club’s Instagram announcement. The move comes after a turbulent summer for the Owls, who are preparing for life back in League One. Ugbo’s departure was confirmed on the club’s official channels on 3 August 2026.

Ugbo initially arrived on a productive loan spell, scoring seven goals in 19 Championship games, which prompted Sheffield Wednesday to sign him permanently. The former Chelsea striker then struggled for form, managing only a single goal across the two campaigns that followed. His lack of impact contrasted sharply with the promise shown during the loan period.

Club administrator Kris Wigfield later highlighted attitude concerns, stating on social media that it was “important” to remove “characters like this” from the squad. The comment underscored the growing frustration within the club hierarchy over Ugbo’s off‑field behaviour.

When the loan was announced, both Josh Windass and Barry Bannan were among the fans who liked the Instagram post, a gesture that will be read in many ways by supporters. Their engagement suggests a willingness to move on from the controversy surrounding the striker.

Sheffield Wednesday had invested over £2 million in Ugbo, a fee that now appears unrecoverable given his limited contributions. The club therefore compromised by sending him to Cyprus, hoping a fresh start will revive his career and preserve some value.

The Owls’ ownership changed hands in May when US‑based Arise Capital Partners completed a takeover, inheriting a squad lacking depth. New arrivals such as Barry Bannan, Callum Slattery and Louie Barry have already arrived at Hillsborough, and Henrik Pedersen stresses the need to eliminate “bad apples” to build cohesion. The massive turnover means the team will need time to develop understanding on and off the pitch.

Action Image By  Chris Gallagher Published Aug 3, 2026, 8:00 PM GMT+1. Chris is a freelance writer for Football League World (FLW) and a Leeds Trinity University graduate. He has primarily covered the Championship, attending West Brom and Birmingham City matches, and now contributes to the FLW editorial team. Add Us