Former Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford today signed with Sheffield United. He has been without a club since he left Elland Road by mutual consent at the end of August.
His departure from Elland Road came as a bit of a shock, with many expecting him to at least stay on board with all his Premier League experience. But Daniel Farke made it clear to him that he could not count on the striker. His injury record over the last two seasons influenced the ultimate decision. In his final season at Leeds, Bamford made 17 appearances but failed to register a single goal or assist.
Bamford remained in England when Leeds camped in Germany during pre-season, playing one friendly with the U21s. It was then officially announced that he had come to an agreement to mutually terminate his contract weeks before the new season. Bamford was linked with a move to Spain, with Getafe showing interest, but nothing ever developed.
Former Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford signs for Sheffield United
As of this week, Mike McGrath of the Telegraph reported that the 32-year-old was holding talks to sign for Sheffield United. Bamford would be joining forces with Chris Wilder, who once labelled him a ‘Muppet’ a few seasons ago. The former Leeds man repaid the comment by starting a chant calling Wilder a ”w*****” when the Whites won automatic promotion at the end of last season. It was a coming together that few could have predicted.
| Season | Injury Type | Date of Injury | Return Date | Duration (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | Muscle injury | 02/01/2025 | 01/04/2025 | 90 |
| 2023/24 | Hamstring injury | 31/07/2023 | 25/09/2023 | 57 |
| 2022/23 | Groin problems | 05/11/2022 | 31/12/2022 | 57 |
| 2021/22 | Foot injury | 27/03/2022 | 01/07/2022 | 97 |
| 2021/22 | Hamstring injury | 07/12/2021 | 28/02/2022 | 84 |
| 2021/22 | Ankle injury | 18/09/2021 | 28/11/2021 | 72 |
| 2018/19 | Knee problems | 22/12/2018 | 31/01/2019 | 41 |
| 2018/19 | Cruciate ligament injury | 07/09/2018 | 07/12/2018 | 92 |
Now, details have been revealed about the move. Sheffield United, who are currently in a Championship relegation battle, are giving Bamford a two-month contract, signing him until January. A deal like that is unheard of in the modern game, but it shows how much concern the Blades have about signing the player in the first place. Wilder publicly made it known that his team lacks forward options, so in a sense, Sheffield United are ‘desperate’ but not enough to give a striker like Bamford a deal till the end of the season at least.
His last full 90-minute appearance in a competitive match was in an EFL Cup tie in August 2024. The Blades clearly have concerns over Bamford’s fitness and ability to play consistently, but they are willing to take him on until they have the opportunity to either offer him a longer deal or sign a completely new striker during the January transfer window.
Leeds United were right to part ways with Bamford
Many Leeds fans were surprised when Bamford left the club, but no one has been crying to get him back, even with the poor form of the current striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (pictured above). Daniel Farke made the right call; going into the Premier League with someone who is always sidelined is not the best, and though Calvert-Lewin was on the bench for the weekend’s game at Forest, he has remained fit for the majority of his time at Elland Road so far.
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Bamford | 50 | 8 | 1 |
| Joel Piroe | 88 | 32 | 10 |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 58 | 10 | 3 |
Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha and Joel Piroe are not world beaters, but all three have been fit for most of the campaign. Bamford’s absence from squads has also allowed a young talent like Harry Gray to be gaining valuable experience on the bench this season. It was a hard decision in the end, but it seems to have been for the best for Leeds United.
Despite joining a local rival, many Leeds fans will wish Bamford well for his time in South Yorkshire. ‘Paddy’ often had a love-hate relationship with Whites fans, but on the whole the majority will have fond memories of Bamford, particularly during the Marcelo Bielsa years where Bamford was the club’s top-scorer during the Championship title-winning campaign of 2019/20 and also the following season in the Premier League, where he scored 17 goals, Leeds finished ninth and Bamford earned an England call-up. It was a rollercoaster ride for Bamford at Elland Road, but now it’s over, we can all remember the good times, and wish him well for his time at Sheffield United.
Good luck to him, I hope that his 2 months contract is successful and that it leads to a longer term arrangement.