Carlton Palmer expressed his happiness after Sheffield Wednesday announced that Josh Windass had signed a new contract to stay with the club.
Windass initially joined the Owls on loan during the January transfer window in 2020, and the move was made permanent in the summer of the same year.
Since then, the forward has become a crucial player at Hillsborough, making 135 appearances. He played a significant role in achieving a promotion win and featured in 25 games, scoring six goals, as the team managed to stay in the Championship against all odds under Danny Rohl last season.
| Josh Windass’ Sheffield Wednesday League Record (Source: Transfermarkt) | ||||
| Season | Division | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2019/20 | Championship | 9 | 3 | – |
| 2020/21 | Championship | 41 | 9 | 6 |
| 2021/22 | League One | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| 2022/23 | League One | 37 | 12 | 7 |
| 2023/24 | Championship | 25 | 6 | 2 |
Josh Windass Signs New Sheffield Wednesday Contract
Despite significant doubts about the future of the 30-year-old, as his contract with Wednesday was expiring this summer, and he was set to become a free agent, Windass has ended any speculation. There had been rumors that West Brom was interested in him, but Windass has committed to staying in Yorkshire by signing a new deal.
This is a significant boost for Rohl, who has quickly strengthened the squad ahead of his first full campaign at Wednesday, with many new recruits already joining the team.
Carlton Palmer Praises Sheffield Wednesday for Josh Windass Deal
Retaining Windass was always a priority, and former Owls player Palmer told FLW that this is a real boost for the club. He praised Windass’ ability to make a difference in the Championship.
“It’s fantastic news for Sheffield Wednesday,” Palmer said when speaking to Football League World.
“You can understand why he waited to see what league the club was going to be in, and obviously Josh Windass wouldn’t want to play in League One again.
“He’s a game-changer. He’s had some bad luck with injuries, missing important parts of the season, and that may have been a concern during contract talks, but they’ve agreed on a deal.
“It’s a fantastic signing for the football club. He’s a very determined young man with loads of quality. So they’ll be hoping to kick on next season, and having someone like Josh available will help.”
“There were plenty of clubs who wanted to take Josh. I think he was close to signing for West Brom, but I know Josh well, and I know he likes living in Sheffield and playing for Sheffield Wednesday, and I know the supporters love him.
“So, it’s brilliant news and things are looking very, very bright ahead of the start of the season.”
Sheffield Wednesday Set for Exciting New Era Under Danny Rohl
Most will agree with Palmer’s assessment that keeping Windass is a significant move for Wednesday. He is a classy operator at this level, even if injuries have been an issue.
If he can stay fit over the course of a season, he is a player who should get around double figures for goals. His pace and power make him a constant threat to the opposition.
The fact that Windass was keen to stay also highlights the positive changes happening at Hillsborough right now, with the mood completely transformed from when Rohl first arrived.
Sheffield Wednesday is a club on the rise, and the German manager is clearly determined to make significant changes to the squad this summer. With several new signings already bolstering the team, they are looking to make a strong push forward.