Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed they will not loan out 17-year-old attacker Will Grainger, who has three years left on his contract and is battling for a starting spot ahead of their trip to Peterborough United. The club intend to keep hold of the young forward over the coming months as they aim for immediate promotion back to the Championship. The72 first reported the story.
What does this mean for Will Grainger’s development?
Henrik Pedersen said: "Of course it is more difficult (for minutes). But we still have a clear plan with Will." Grainger, who rose through Sheffield Wednesday's academy, has made 10 first-team appearances in all competitions, including two in the Carabao Cup against Bolton Wanderers and Wolves, scoring one goal. He provides competition and depth in the attacking department, battling for a starting XI place with Mason Burstow, Ali Al-Hamadi, and Jamal Lowe.
How does this fit into Sheffield Wednesday’s current situation?
The Owls are in 2nd place in the League One table behind Huddersfield Town, aiming for immediate promotion back to the Championship. This comes after a difficult 2025 Championship campaign where they finished 24th with 0 points, 2 wins, 12 draws, and 32 losses from 46 games, a goal difference of -60, and 95 points behind leaders Coventry. Grainger signed for Sheffield Wednesday in 2006 after a stint at Doncaster Rovers and was a regular at various youth levels before breaking into the senior set-up last year while the club were struggling in the second tier.
What’s next for Sheffield Wednesday?
Sheffield Wednesday's next match is a trip to London Road to face Peterborough United, with the aim to keep momentum going into that fixture. The club won 2-1 away at Wycombe Wanderers earlier this season, with goals from Louie Barry and Jamal Lowe. Davis Kellior-Dunn joined on a temporary basis from Wrexham, adding further options to Pedersen’s squad as they push for promotion. For more on upcoming matches, see the fixtures, and to review player availability, check the squad and stats pages.
Grainger remains under contract until summer 2029, giving the club long-term security in their attacking plans as they prepare for the Peterborough United clash this week.
