A vast rebuild is underway at Sheffield Wednesday. Following the excellent news that the club would no longer be under Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership, the new owners have made no secret of the ‘messy summer’ ahead at Hillsborough. Now, they have added a former captain at League One level to their ranks.
Last season was dismal for Wednesday. Facing constant adversity off the pitch while their relegation was confirmed in March at the hands of their city rivals, Sheffield United. The Owls were ecstatic to find out that they would not be faced with another points deduction upon their fall back into the third tier, meaning the 26-27 season can be a clean slate for the South Yorkshire giants.
With the summer sure to be heavy on the recruitment front, they have now confirmed the signing of Ricardo Santos, who joins the club from Swansea City for an undisclosed fee.
Ricardo Santos Makes Sheffield Wednesday Move
The central defender has joined the club on a one-year contract with the option of an extra twelve months, as confirmed via the club’s official website.
The 31-year-old made the move to Swansea City last summer, but was heavily limited for appearances, only making one for the South Wales side. However, his time with Bolton Wanderers showed he is both a top defender and captain at the level.
Joining the Wanderers from Barnet in 2020, he was a defining factor in all the success the club enjoyed under Ian Evatt’s lead. Taking the club to promotion with some exceptional performances at the back, he was vital in establishing Bolton as a top-end side in League One as they consistently finished in the play-off spots with Santos in defence.
Eventually released following a poor 2024-25 season, he made the step up to Swansea City but will now be returning to League One.
What Will Santos Bring To Sheffield Wednesday?
Given the heavy influx of players set to join Wednesday this summer, they will need to quickly settle the eventual squad if they are to stand any chance of making an immediate return to the Championship.
And Santos could be a great asset towards that. He is a proven captain and capable operator at the top end of League One, having played in numerous promotion challenges at the level for Bolton.
Wednesday are a giant at the level, and have every chance of building a formidable squad in the summer. Adding a profile like Ricardo Santos is a wise decision so early on in the window.
What Has Been Said?
On joining the club, Santos commented:
“Once I got the call from my agent telling me that Sheffield Wednesday was a possibility, I told him, make sure you get this done.
“There’s so much I can say about the club. The support just drags players in. The fans are unbelievable, plus the manager’s energy and his ambitions.
“The club struggled last year and had its problems, but all of that is over now – as you can see by how many season tickets we’ve sold. Joining at this time, there is no better feeling for me.”
