The 2023–24 season was the 156th season in the existence of Sheffield Wednesday, and the club's first season back in the Championship following promotion the previous campaign. In addition to the domestic league, the club also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
This season was known as The Great Escape, as Wednesday went against all odds and managed to avoid relegation despite having the worst start to a season in Championship history.
Season overview June On 1 June, Wednesday confirmed their home strip for the 2023–24 season.
On 2 June, Wednesday confirmed its retained list following the end of the previous season.
On 8 June, Head of Recruitment and Analysis David Downes left the club to join Blackpool as their new Sporting Director.
On 19 June, manager Darren Moore and his backroom staff left the club by mutual consent.
On 21 June, Wednesday confirmed their away strip for the 2023–24 season.
On 30 June, the players returned for pre-season training.
July On 4 July, Xisco Muñoz was appointed new first-team manager.
On 14 July, Xisco confirmed his backroom staff of Miguel Muñoz as assistant manager, Roberto Cuesta Roman as first-team coach and Antonello Brambilla as goalkeeper coach.
On 24 July, Xisco finalised his backroom staff with performance manager Miguel Gomila joining the club.
On 31 July, the club published their accounts ending July 2022.
August On 1 August, Wednesday announced their new first year scholars of; Caiden Remy-Dee, Finley Hunt, Joe Emery, Jack Swales, Voldi Mbaya, Ari-Jae Shaw, Ernie Weaver, Dom Weston, Logan Stretch, Harris Lihe and Sutura Kakay.
On 3 August, Wednesday confirmed TriggerHub as their new sleeve and back of shirt sponsor for the season.
On 4 August, Wednesday confirmed their season squad numbers.
On 26 August, Juan Delgado was called up to the Chile squad.
On 31 August, Devis Vásquez was called up to the Colombia squad.
September On 1 September, Pierce Charles and Devlan Moses were both called up to the Northern Ireland U19 squad.
On 1 September, Di'Shon Bernard was called up to the Jamaica squad.
On 19 September, manager Xisco Muñoz confirmed that Lyle Taylor was training with the club.
On 29 September, owner Dejphon Chansiri confirmed he would no longer put funds into the club.
On 30 September, Juan Delgado was called up to the Chile squad.
October On 3 October, following the defeat to West Bromwich Albion, the Owls were left with their worst ever start to a season.
On 4 October, manager Xisco Muñoz and his backroom staff parted company with the club.
On 7 October, Di'Shon Bernard was called up to the Jamaica squad.
On 11 October, Juan Delgado withdrew from international duty through injury.
On 13 October, Danny Röhl was appointed the new first-team manager.
On 16 October, Sascha Lense was appointed performance manager.
On 16 October, Chief Operating Officer Liam Dooley left the club to become Chief Executive Officer of Shrewsbury Town.
On 20 October, Chris Powell was confirmed as assistant coach.
On 20 October, Henrik Pedersen was confirmed as the new assistant head coach.
On 23 October, the club were fined £50,000 by The Football Association for fan conduct in the League One Playoffs win against Peterborough United the previous season.
On 27 October, the club were placed under a registration embargo because of money owed to HM Revenue and Customs.
On 31 October, Dejphon Chansiri asked fans to raise £2m to help the club pay an outstanding debt to HM Revenue and Customs and cover wages.
November On 1 November, Dejphon Chansiri confirmed he had paid the outstanding debt and players and staff salaries were paid in full.
On 7 November, the club successfully appealed the red card against Barry Bannan following his dismissal against Bristol City.
On 10 November, Pierce Charles and Devlan Moses were both called up to the Northern Ireland U19 squad.
On 12 November, Di'Shon Bernard was called up to the Jamaica squad.
On 21 November, Sal Bibbo was confirmed as the new goalkeeper coach.
December On 6 December, Kevin Beadell was confirmed as the new head of recruitment.
January On 6 January, the upcoming game against Watford was postponed due to Wednesday's progression in the FA Cup.
On 31 January, Mario Bobea was called up to the Romania U19 squad.
February On 9 February, announced Cirata as their new front of shirt sponsor running for the remainder of the campaign.
On 21 February, the club were charged with misconduct in relation to crowd control following their game against Coventry City on 20 January.
March On 4 March, the club published their annual accounts for the year ending 31 July 2023.
On 12 March, Joey Phuthi was called up to the Zimbabwe squad.
On 12 March, Iké Ugbo was called up to the Canada squad.
On 14 March, Ian Poveda was called up to the Colombia squad.
On 14 March, Di'Shon Bernard and Bailey Cadamarteri were called up to the Jamaica squad.
On 15 March, Pierce Charles was called up to the Northern Ireland U21 squad.
On 15 March, James Beadle was called up to the England U20 squad.
On 15 March, Bailey Cadamarteri was called up to the England U19 squad.
On 19 March, Ian Poveda withdrew from the Colombia squad due to injury.
April On 11 April, Head of Academy Goalkeeping Nicky Weaver, announced he would be stepping down from his role at the end of the season.
On 17 April, Barry Bannan was crowned the Wise Old Owls Player of the Year.
On 30 April, Barry Bannan was crowned the Sheffield Star Player of the Year, whilst manager Danny Röhl would be joint winner of the Sheffield Star Manager of the Year with Grant McCann.
May On 4 May, Wednesday secured survival on the final day of the season following a 2–0 win against Sunderland.
On 9 May, Anthony Musaba was crowned as the 2023–24 Michael Plumb Player of the Year.
On 13 May, the clubs academy retained list was published.
On 15 May, Will Vaulks was named 2023–24 Rainbow Owls Player of the Season. Bailey Cadamarteri was named the group's Young Player of the Season and Pol Valentín the group's Signing of the Season.
On 17 May, the clubs retained list was published.
On 20 May, Pierce Charles was called up to the Northern Ireland squad.
On 24 May, Bailey Cadamarteri was called up to the England Men's Elite League squad.
On 24 May, manager Danny Röhl signed an extended long-term contract.
On 29 May, Joey Phuthi was called up to the Zimbabwe squad.
On 31 May, Di'Shon Bernard was called up to the Jamaica squad.
First-team squad
No. Player Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (age) Signed from Date signed Fee Contract end Goalkeepers 1 Cameron Dawson GK Sheffield Sheffield United 1 July 2012 30 June 2024 26 James Beadle GK Bexley Brighton & Hove Albion 8 January 2024 Loan 31 May 2024 46 Jack Hall GK Worksop Academy 14 October 2021 30 June 2024 47 Pierce Charles GK Manchester Manchester City 14 October 2022 Free Transfer 30 June 2027 Defenders 2 Liam Palmer RB Worksop Academy 1 July 2010 30 June 2025 3 Kristian Pedersen LB Ringsted Swansea City 1 February 2024 Loan 31 May 2024 5 Bambo Diaby CB Ziguinchor Preston North End 2 August 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2025 6 Dominic Iorfa CB Southend-on-Sea Wolverhampton Wanderers 31 January 2019 Undisclosed 30 June 2024 14 Pol Valentín RB Avinyonet de Puigventós Sporting Gijón 27 July 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2025 15 Juan Delgado RB Chillán Paços de Ferreira 24 July 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2024 17 Di'Shon Bernard CB Wandsworth Manchester United 31 July 2023 Free Transfer 30 June 2024 20 Michael Ihiekwe CB Liverpool Rotherham United 1 July 2022 Free Transfer 30 June 2025 23 Akin Famewo CB Lewisham Norwich City 6 July 2022 Undisclosed 30 June 2025 25 Gui Siqueira RB Queens Park Rangers 19 July 2023 Free Transfer 30 June 2025 33 Reece James LB Bacup Blackpool 30 June 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2024 34 Joey Phuthi RB Harare Academy 25 August 2023 30 June 2025 38 Mackenzie Maltby CB Chesterfield Academy 1 July 2023 30 June 2024 39 Sam Reed LB Sheffield Brighouse Town 20 July 2023 Free Transfer 30 June 2025 Ciaran Brennan CB Sheffield Academy 3 May 2018 30 June 2024 Midfielders 4 Will Vaulks DM Wirral Cardiff City 1 July 2022 Free Transfer 30 June 2024 10 Barry Bannan CM Airdrie Crystal Palace 31 August 2015 Undisclosed 30 June 2025 18 Marvin Johnson LM Birmingham Middlesbrough 5 August 2021 Free Transfer 30 June 2025 22 Jeff Hendrick CM Dublin Newcastle United 1 September 2023 Loan 31 May 2024 30 Sean Fusire CM Sheffield Academy 9 December 2022 30 June 2025 31 Rio Shipston CM Sheffield Academy 14 December 2022 30 June 2025 44 Momo Diaby DM Grasse Portimonense 11 August 2023 Loan 31 May 2024 Forwards 7 Mallik Wilks RW Leeds Hull City 22 August 2022 Undisclosed 30 June 2025 9 Lee Gregory CF Sheffield Stoke City 5 August 2021 Free transfer 30 June 2024 11 Josh Windass CF Kingston upon Hull Wigan Athletic 2 September 2020 Undisclosed 30 June 2024 12 Iké Ugbo CF Lewisham Troyes 11 January 2024 Loan 31 May 2024 13 Callum Paterson CF London Cardiff City 30 September 2020 Undisclosed 30 June 2025 24 Michael Smith CF Wallsend Rotherham United 1 July 2022 Free Transfer 30 June 2025 27 Ashley Fletcher CF Keighley Watford 25 July 2023 Loan 31 May 2024 36 Ian Poveda RW Southwalk Leeds United 1 February 2024 Loan 31 May 2024 41 Djeidi Gassama LW Nieleba Haouisse Paris Saint-Germain 15 August 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2026 42 Bailey Cadamarteri CF Leeds Academy 8 June 2022 30 June 2028 45 Anthony Musaba RW Beuningen Monaco 3 August 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2025 Out on Loan 8 George Byers CM Ilford Swansea City 3 August 2021 Undisclosed 30 June 2024 19 Tyreeq Bakinson DM Camden Bristol City 21 July 2022 Undisclosed 30 June 2024
Pre-season and friendlies The club announced their first friendly, a testimonial match for former player Drew Talbot against Chesterfield on 2 June. On 6 June, another friendly against York City was confirmed. A day later, a third friendly was added, at Doncaster Rovers. It was confirmed on 29 June that they would have a pre-season camp in Spain with a friendly against Real Murcia confirmed. A friendly against Luton Town at home was announced on 7 July. The day they travelled to Spain, a second friendly on their tour against CD Eldense was confirmed.
Competitions Overall record
EFL Championship
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On 22 June, the EFL Championship fixtures were released.
FA Cup
Sheffield Wednesday were drawn at home to Cardiff City in the third round and against Coventry City in the fourth round.
EFL Cup
Wednesday were drawn against Stockport County in the first round on 22 June 2023. The second round was drawn on 9 August 2023 against Mansfield Town.
Transfers & contracts In DatePosPlayerTransferred fromFeeRef 30 June 2023 LB Reece James Blackpool Undisclosed 11 July 2023 CM Jay Buchan † Leeds United Free Transfer 11 July 2023 CB Ryan Wilson † Blackburn Rovers Free Transfer 19 July 2023 RB Gui Siqueira † Queens Park Rangers Free Transfer 20 July 2023 LB Sam Reed † Brighouse Town Free Transfer 24 July 2023 RB Juan Delgado Paços de Ferreira Undisclosed 27 July 2023 RB Pol Valentín Sporting Gijón Undisclosed 31 July 2023 CB Di'Shon Bernard Manchester United Free Transfer 2 August 2023 CB Bambo Diaby Preston North End Undisclosed 3 August 2023 RW Anthony Musaba Monaco Undisclosed 15 August 2023 LW Djeidi Gassama Paris Saint-Germain Undisclosed 1 March 2024 CB Gabriel Otegbayo † Burnley Free Transfer † Signed for the academy
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