Sheffield United on Tuesday confirmed that Hamza Choudhury officially joined their team on loan from Leicester City until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old midfielder has struggled for playing time at Leicester this season, featuring in just six Premier League matches. He now joins Sheffield United, who are competing in the Championship, the second tier of English football, as they push for promotion to the Premier League.
Sheffield United acknowledged Hamza’s Bangladeshi heritage by introducing him as the "Bangladeshi Blade" in a social media post. The announcement included a short video featuring the Bangladeshi flag.
The nickname ties into Sheffield United’s moniker, "The Blades," reflecting the club's effort to celebrate his background.
"I'm delighted to join Sheffield United. The discussions have been ongoing for a few weeks, and I'm ready to contribute. I know the team's position in the league, so I wanted to come and help to hopefully get the team promoted back on the top," Hamza said expressing his excitement in a video shared by Sheffield United on the day.
“Sheffield’s a massive club, firstly, I played here a couple of times and the atmosphere is always amazing. And like I said, I wanted to play at a top level and show what I can do with a top team. It’s an attractive club for anyone. I liked working with the manager previously, so it fits well for me and my family,” Hamza answered as to why he joined Sheffield United while Championship clubs were also interested in him.
Hamza still has two and a half years left on his Leicester contract, but he was not a prominent figure in manager Ruud van Nistelrooy's plans. The move to Sheffield offers him a chance for regular football and a significant role in the team's ambitions.
Sheffield United, managed by Chris Wilder, have long admired Hamza, with Wilder particularly impressed by his performances during a loan spell at Watford in the 2022–23 season.
“I worked with the gaffer for a couple of months in Watford, it was a short stint but I definitely enjoyed working under him.
Sheffield currently sit second in the Championship table, behind leaders Leeds United. As per the structure of English football, the top two teams in the Championship earn automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the teams placed third to sixth compete in playoffs for the final promotion spot.
Hamza is expected to make debut for Sheffield in their upcoming clash against Derby County on Saturday (1 February).
According to British media outlets, Sheffield United will cover Hamza's full wages during the loan period, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
Source: The Daily Sun
bd-pratidin/Rafid
