Bamford joins Sheffield United in surprise short-term move

Championship strugglers Sheffield United have confirmed the signing of former Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford on a free transfer.

Bamford had been without a club since leaving Leeds by mutual consent in August, following their promotion back to the Premier League.

Bamford spent seven years at Elland Road after making a £7m switch from Middlesbrough in 2018, scoring 60 goals in 205 appearances for the club.

Seventeen of those goals came in the Premier League in 2020-21 as Leeds finished ninth under Marcelo Bielsa, with only Harry Kane (23 goals), Mohamed Salah (22) and Bruno Fernandes (18) outscoring him that campaign. That form led to Gareth Southgate handing Bamford his sole England cap in 2021.

But Bamford was limited to just 17 appearances as Leeds returned to the big time under Daniel Farke last season, and after three months without a club, he has penned a short-term contract with the Blades to run until January.

The move comes despite Bamford having several run-ins with Chris Wilder, who returned for a third stint as Sheffield United’s head coach in September.

Feeling good in red and white pic.twitter.com/cqUC9MoKtS

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) November 13, 2025

Wilder referred to Bamford as a “muppet” in 2019, and this April, the striker called the Blades boss to apologise after footage emerged of the striker leading derogatory chants against him.

Despite being considered one of the favourites for promotion in pre-season, Sheffield United are 22nd in the table after 15 games, three points adrift of Oxford United in 21st.

Bamford’s first game in a Sheffield United shirt could be a derby matchup with Sheffield Wednesday, who are bottom of the table following a 12-point deduction, on November 23.