Update emerges on future of key Sheffield Wednesday man amid contract limbo

Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan has continued to train with the club and retains a desire to stay, as per The Star.

Sheffield Wednesday are in an uncertain position with ownership and financial issues derailing their preparations for the 2025/26 campaign. SWFC are set to see several players depart, while a coaching overhaul likely awaits too.

Failure to make salary payments once again has allowed players to serve notice and rip up their contracts, while the deals of several coaches have expired as well.

Uncertainty is persisting over player futures, and among those officially out of contract is key midfielder and captain Barry Bannan. His deal ran out at the end of last month and has been linked with other Championship clubs.

However, The Star reports that Bannan has reported for training with Sheffield Wednesday for the start of pre-season and having made it clear he wants to stay with the club on several occasions, he retains a desire to sign a new deal and remain despite their payment problems.

SWFC are set to train at St. George’s Park next week and while the situations of many remain up in the air, the expectation is that Bannan will be among those in attendance.

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Bannan staying loyal despite Sheffield Wednesday chaos

It has long felt as though Bannan will stay at Sheffield Wednesday as long as he can and as long as he’s wanted.

The current situation is certainly putting that loyalty to the test, but his presence at training and indications that he will be with the SWFC squad for the training camp at St. George’s Park indicates he fully intends to stay put.

Many players will depart having been given the chance to rip up their contracts after further payment delays, and few will blame them for doing so. However, those who stay put will earn the unwavering respect of the Hillsborough faithful.

Clubs sure to lurk if Bannan stances changes

While Bannan appears to plan on staying with Sheffield Wednesday, that won’t stop interested clubs from monitoring his situation with the Owls.

Aged 35, the Scot has remained one of the top midfielders in the Championship and would be a big asset for any side in the division.

Keeping him onboard will be key for SWFC, especially if they are forced to dip into the academy ranks depending on the scale of the player exodus. Alongside his standout ability, his leadership and experience could be key in leading a patched-together Owls squad when the new season comes around.