Sheffield United confirm club legend among FIVE players released before Premier League season has finished
SHEFFIELD UNITED have released five players including club legend Chris Basham.
The Blades have confirmed their retained list ahead of Sunday’s final day clash with Tottenham.
Basham, 35, will leave Bramall Lane after 10 years with the Blades.
The veteran defender has not featured since suffering a horror broken leg last October.
Also leaving Sheffield United will be last year’s promotion heroes Oliver Norwood, George Baldock, Wes Foderingham and Max Lowe.
The Blades paid tribute to their departing quintet when confirming the news on their official website.
They wrote in a club statement: “The Blades can confirm Chris Basham, George Baldock, Oliver Norwood, Wes Foderingham and Max Lowe will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.
“The aforementioned players will each embark on new chapters in their careers following the conclusion of this campaign, having helped the Blades to success during their spells at Bramall Lane.
“They share a total of nine promotions in their Blades careers and the club see fit to release this news ahead of the end of the campaign to enable them to receive acclaim from Unitedites for their contributions.
“With the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday being United’s final fixture of the campaign, special acknowledgements will be paid to the five, with further tributes across the club’s digital platforms.
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“The five players will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for the contribution they have made to Sheffield United Football Club.
“Further news with regards to the futures of other current squad members will follow in due course.”
Basham joined Sheffield United from Bolton in 2014 and went on to play 394 times for the Blades.
During his time at Bramall Lane he won the League One title in addition to earning two Championship promotions.
He featured eight times in the Premier League this term, before breaking his leg against Fulham on October 7.
Baldock, 31, joined Basham in defence for many years, having signed for Sheffield United in 2017.
The Greece international appeared 219 times for the Blades, including 13 times in the Prem this term.
Norwood, 33, initially arrived at Bramall Lane on loan from Brighton in 2018.
He made his move permanent 12 months later, going on to become a key cog in midfield over the course of 252 appearances.
Foderingham, 33, arrived from Rangers in 2020 and has been the Blades’ first choice keeper for much of this season.
The former England youth international helped the Blades to promotion last season and played 111 times for the club.
Lowe, 27, joined from Derby in September 2020.
The wing-back has played 52 times in total for Sheffield United, being limited to just three Premier League starts this season.
Blades chiefs are already preparing for life back in the Championship next season.
Chris Wilder’s side are already guaranteed to finish bottom of the Prem, having accrued just 16 points from 37 matches.
