Samuel Abifade eyes Sheffield Wednesday move after contract exit

Sheffield Wednesday could be on the brink of a reunion with German left-back Samuel Abifade this summer after his contract expired at SV Waldhof Mannheim. The 26-year-old, who has spent his entire career in Germany, left his former club on a free transfer and is now weighing up his next move - with Wednesday among the options.

What’s the latest with Samuel Abifade?

Abifade, 26, has spent his whole career in Germany, starting at FT Braunschweig Youth in 2018 before moving to Wolfsburg II on loan the following year. He later played for VFB Lübeck, SV Meppen, and SV Waldhof Mannheim, making 97 appearances and scoring ten goals for the latter. His contract at Mannheim ended this summer, leaving him without a club.

When asked by Braunschweiger Zeitung if he’s joining Sheffield Wednesday, Abifade’s response was simple: “You never know.” The Owls are now managed by Henrik Pedersen, who previously coached Abifade at Eintracht Braunschweig - though the left-back never featured under him there.

Could this be a Pedersen reunion?

Pedersen’s time at Eintracht Braunschweig overlapped with Abifade’s spell in the first team, though the player never made a competitive appearance under him. A move to Wednesday would reunite the pair, with Pedersen now in charge at Hillsborough. The Owls sit 24th in the Championship with zero points from 46 games this season, recent form WLLDD, and sit 95 points behind league leaders Coventry.

Why is Abifade considering a move abroad?

Abifade has long eyed a move to a new country to experience a different culture and learn a new language. “I’ve wanted this experience for a while,” he said. “I received an offer from Waldhof early in the season but wanted to finish the campaign first.” With his contract now up, he’s ready to seize a fresh opportunity - even if it means leaving Germany for the first time.

Wednesday’s next fixture is an away trip to Luton on 9 January 2027, with the club still searching for their first league win of the season. Goals this season stand at 29 scored and 89 conceded, leaving them with a goal difference of -60.