Sheffield United close in on permanent Hamza Choudhury return

Sheffield United are closing in on a permanent deal to bring Hamza Choudhury back from Leicester City, with the midfielder expected to undergo a medical before the move is completed.

The transfer has not yet been officially announced by either club, but Leicester Mercury reports that Choudhury is nearing a return to Bramall Lane. The72 has also reported that Sheffield United have moved ahead of Derby County in the race, hijacking Derby’s attempt to sign the 28-year-old before the deadline.

That makes the deal advanced, but not complete. Choudhury still has to finish the medical process and the clubs need to confirm the agreement before the move can be treated as official.

For Sheffield United, the appeal is obvious. Choudhury spent the second half of last season on loan at Bramall Lane, so this is not a speculative deadline move for an unfamiliar player. He already knows the club, the division and the demands of a squad trying to build stability after a difficult start.

His profile also fits a practical Championship need. Choudhury can operate as a defensive midfielder and has also covered wider or deeper roles when required, giving Sheffield United a flexible senior option without the adaptation risk of a player arriving from outside English football.

For Leicester, a sale would move on an academy graduate whose route back into the squad has narrowed. Choudhury came through the club’s system and has made senior appearances across several spells, but recent seasons have increasingly involved loans and short-term solutions away from the King Power Stadium.

The Derby element gives the story its late-window edge. Derby had been working on a deal for Choudhury, but Sheffield United’s intervention has redirected the move towards a club where he already has recent experience. That familiarity may prove decisive as the final formalities are completed.

Until the clubs announce the transfer, Choudhury’s return should remain classified as advanced rather than official. The direction of travel is clear, but the move still needs medical clearance and formal confirmation.