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The most troubling aspect of Sheffield Wednesday player departures, survival would now be a miracle

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Sheffield Wednesday’s attacking pair, Josh Windass and Michael Smith, have both left the club, leaving the Owls without one key characteristic as the 2025/26 season approaches.

Sheffield Wednesday’s squad ahead of the upcoming Championship campaign continues to take a battering, with Josh Windass and Michael Smith the next to approach the departure lounge.

They follow both Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba out of the doors at Hillsborough, with more exits likely this summer.

With it now expected that Danny Rohl will leave Sheffield Wednesday, as exclusively revealed by EFL Analysis, it is understood that Henrik Pedersen will be the German’s successor, in a role that will be hugely testing.

At this point in pre-season, Sheffield Wednesday’s squad is far from being Championship-ready, and that is highlighted by one key statistic that will leave Owls fans fearing the worst.

Josh Windass of Sheffield Wednesday
Photo by Scott Llewellyn | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday’s goals have been seriously depleted ahead of 2025/26

Due to the ongoing situation at Sheffield Wednesday, where Dejphon Chansiri is looking towards the first-team squad to secure short-term funding.

The latest departures, Josh Windass and Michael Smith, have had their contracts terminated. It is particularly worrying ahead of the new season, especially since the Owls have lost their top two scorers for nothing.

In fact, when looking at all of Sheffield Wednesday’s goal scorers in the 2024/25 Championship campaign, only six remain.

Below is a graphic to show the extent of goals that were scored last season by players that are currently not under a contract ahead of the new campaign at Sheffield Wednesday.

PlayerLeague goals scoredCurrently under contract at SWFC
Josh Windass13No
Michael Smith8No
Djeidi Gassama7No
Callum Paterson6No
Barry Bannan4No
Yan Valery3Yes
Jamal Lowe3Yes
Anthony Musaba3No
Michael Ihiekwe2No
Di’Shon Bernard2Yes
Svante Ingelsson1Yes
Shea Charles1No
Pol Valentin1No
Dominic Iorfa1Yes
Gabriel Otegbayo1Yes

Of the 56 goals scored in the league last season by Sheffield Wednesday players, 45 of those were scored by Owls players who are not under contract, which totals at less than 20% of goals. The top three goal scorers last season have already permanently left the club.

Callum Paterson of Sheffield Wednesday celebrates
Photo by Scott Llewellyn | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Current situation places huge importance on re-signing one Owls star

There is no clear solution to what is likely to be a huge issue for Sheffield Wednesday. The large majority of their goalscoring threat has either left already or is on their way out.

Such an issue calls for Dejphon Chansiri to tie down as many players immediately ahead of the season, notably the likes of Barry Bannan.

Sheffield Wednesday have made contact with Callum Paterson with the view of potentially re-signing the utility man. As the Owls’ fourth top scorer last season, it is a no-brainer to secure his future at the club. However, Dejphon Chansiri’s record this summer of letting players go doesn’t bode well.