EFL pundit Gab Sutton has selected six players that Sheffield Wednesday could sign as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the 2026/27 League One season.
The Owls' 2025/26 term in the second tier of English football was impeded by financial uncertainty and point deductions, winning just two Championship games and finishing the campaign rock-bottom on zero points.
There's already a new sense of optimism at Hillsborough under the ownership of US consortium Arise Capital Partners -- with Louie Barry and Callum Slattery amongst their new additions -- and our man Gab Sutton has picked out six players that he believes could join the club this window.
Dom Ballard
What will be a common theme with these suggestions is players who have shown themselves to be capable at this level already, but also possess the growth potential, hunger and ambition to travel a lot further in their careers.
In that regard, Dom Ballard fits the bill. An England Under-20 international as recently as 2024, Ballard comes into the summer off the back of a sensational goalscoring campaign at strugglers Leyton Orient, scoring 23 goals for a side that had it’s structural issues.
You put him in a side with Harry Gray, Louie Barry, Barry Bannan, Callum Slattery and other players who can create space and chances for him, and simplistic logic suggests he could comfortably make the 30 mark.
Averaging just 13.8 passes per 90, Ballard can be on the periphery of games at times, and Wednesday would need to make allowances for their striker not being very busy in terms of link-up play, but with the right service he can always carry a threat in behind.
Wednesday could do with a more prolific striker than Jamal Lowe, but they need to make space for one: Ike Ugbo and Charlie McNeill, they’ll look to offload, while a loan could be in the offing for one of George Brown or Will Grainger.
Marc Leonard
After outstanding loans with Northampton, in League Two in 2022/23, then in League One in 2023/24, Marc Leonard’s career rise hasn’t since been quite as linear as he’d have liked – although he did nearly win a Scottish Premiership in his loan at Hearts.
In 2024, Leonard moved to Birmingham hoping to be a regular starter for Chris Davies’ side, but fell victim to the impeccable form of Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-Ho that meant he had to settle for only 14 league starts, and often more advanced than he would naturally operate, then only five in the first half of the Championship campaign.
Nonetheless, the Scot remains a stupendous technician, capable of hitting a diagonal pass on the half-volley!
Barry Bannan’s minutes will have to be managed wisely, and Leonard will be one of the best playmakers in the division with lots of growth potential.
Jamie McDonnell
With positive reviews from Nottingham Forest, where he captained the Under-18s, Jamie McDonnell has enjoyed a fantastic start to his Football League career.
The 22-year-old was adored at Colchester for his infectious energy and remarkable spring, likewise at Mansfield, after stepping up to League One.
The Championship was a big jump for the midfielder, his second step up in the space of a year, but the Northern Irishman’s long-term potential is to be playing in the Premier League, and now’s a great time for Wednesday to invest in players who can grow with the club.
Tommi O’Reilly
Were Tommi O’Reilly coming through at Aston Villa at a time when they were in the Championship, he’d have a chance of breaking through because he’s an extremely exciting talent.
Now, however, Villa’s trajectory as a UEFA Champions League regular sets the bar almost impossibly high for youngsters coming through the system: O’Reilly would need another two or three loans before he has a chance of being ready to play at that sort of level and, now 22, that’s just not something he has time for.
So, a clean break could really appeal to the diminutive attacking midfielder, nicknamed ‘Fodes’ at Villa for his playing similarity to Phil Foden: extremely agile and elusive, O’Reilly is oozing with creativity.
Joe Whitworth
Sheffield Wednesday need a quality first-choice goalkeeper, after Pierce Charles was poached by Manchester City this summer.
Now 22, Joe Whitworth may need a fresh start to demonstrate his talent, of which he’s demonstrated plenty in his loan spells at Exeter, and it’s unclear whether Joe Lumley has been signed to be the number one.
Josh Key
Right-back Josh Key – formerly of Exeter City – is out of contract in 2027 at Swansea, who have emerging prospects in his position in Sam Parker and Filip Lissah.
Key, though, is an exciting, attacking right-back with a great work ethic and higher-league pedigree, so with Yan Valery on his way out literally, and Liam Palmer on his way out metaphorically, this could be a smart move.
Gab Sutton's top five League One prospects to watch in 2026/27
