Sheffield Wednesday are set to reignite their interest in defender Reece Welsh after he was released by Everton, sources close to Football Lowdown have revealed.
Welsh was a reported target for the Owls earlier in the year, but he didn’t end up making a temporary switch to Hillsborough. Also pursued by Plymouth Argyle, Welsh is now a free agent as the Toffemen chose not to renew his contract.
While a collection of League One clubs are also interested, Bundesliga side SC Freiburg have been credited with an interest. While that is still believed to be the player’s preferred option, Sheffield Wednesday have not given up hope of keeping him in the country, with a promise of regular football and a stab at promotion.
The Owls believe he is the type of player they’ll need next season as they attack League One, young and talented with a point to prove, with a degree of senior experience and developmental value. Welsh has appeared in the Football League and in a top-flight European side.
Reece Welsh career so far
He came through Everton’s academy after joining the club at the age of seven, eventually signing his first professional contract in September 2020. The 22-year-old centre-back made his senior debut for the Toffees in March 2022, coming off the bench in a 2-0 FA Cup win against Boreham Wood, although he did not make a Premier League appearance for the club.
He gained senior experience during a loan spell with Forest Green Rovers in the 2023-24 season, making 24 appearances in all competitions before being recalled by Everton in January 2024. Welch then had a brief spell in Belgium with Deinze, but returned to Goodison Park later that year after the club was declared bankrupt, before Everton confirmed in June 2026 that he would be released at the end of his contract.
Previous Sheffield Wednesday links
He was linked with a move to Hillsborough back in January, albeit one which would have seen him head out on loan, rather than make a permanent switch. While other League One clubs are thought to be monitoring his progress, a move to Yorkshire is believed to appeal to the youngster, who hails from Huddersfield.
Sheffield Wednesday are back in the third tier after a horror season that saw them relegated the earliest across EFL history. a 15-point deduction didn’t help, but there was cause for celebration, as Dephon Chansiri finally relinquished control, giving them a clean start in the third tier.
