Sheffield Wednesday entered the 2025/26 season hoping to field a squad built around more experienced first-team players. However, persistent financial problems and a series of transfer embargoes severely limited SWFC’s options in the market.
As a result, the club managed to make just two signings over the summer, including Ethan Horvath and the signing Harry Amass. Since there are limited reinforcements available, Business manager Henrik Pedersen has been forced to rely heavily on the club’s youth academy prospects to strengthen its squad.
Young players have regularly been on the bench, with a number of them breaking through to the starting eleven. Among them is teenage defender Ernie Weaver, whose impressive performances quickly caught the eye before this latest setback.
Weaver was battling an injury heading into this campaign, but it was revealed he will undergo surgery. Now, according to the starIt is said that the young defender could be out until April this year.
Ernie Weaver’s Sheffield Wednesday stats in the Championship – via FOTMob
| Games | Minutes played | Clean sheets |
| 6 | 354 | 1 |
Weaver played a huge role in Sheffield Wednesday’s recent unbeaten run prior to the defeat to Coventry City. It will be another huge blow for SWFC and a huge setback for Weaver.
Sheffield Wednesday cannot replace Weaver
Pedersen is already working with a worn-out squad, but despite Weaver’s injury he is unable to bring in replacements. The club remains restricted by the current transfer embargoes.
With six embargoes against them, Sheffield Wednesday are banned from signing any further ‘permitted players’. Under the regulations, clubs facing embargoes can only recruit free agents outside the transfer window if they have fewer than sixteen permitted players, defined as players who have made three or more competitive starts at the club’s current level or above.
Loan players will become available again in January. SWFC will be hoping they can add some bodies to their roster, but that will depend on their ownership issues.
Who will step up in Weaver’s absence?
Sheffield Wednesday already have a number of young defenders in the first team who could feature in Weaver’s absence. The lack of options available for seniors leaves Pedersen with little choice but to continue to put his faith in the youth.
Gabriel Otegbayo, Joe Emery and 16-year-old Yisa Alao are among those who could fill the void. Otegbayo seems the most likely candidate, having already made 24 first-team appearances for the Owls.
Both Emery and Alao made their senior debuts in the EFL Cup earlier this season, but Weaver’s injury could now open the door for their breakthrough in the competition.
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