Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly considering a surprise move for former Manchester United defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who has been without a club since the summer of 2024.
From Title Winner to Free Agent
Timothy Fosu-Mensah became a free agent after his contract with German champions Bayer Leverkusen was terminated early, a decision in which current Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is believed to have been involved. The Dutch defender had joined Leverkusen from Manchester United in a £1.8million deal during the January 2021 transfer window.
His time in Germany was severely hampered by injuries, including serious knee and hamstring problems. These setbacks limited him to just 30 appearances over three-and-a-half years. Despite this, he was part of the Leverkusen squad that secured a historic Bundesliga title. Fosu-Mensah has not played a competitive match since April 2023.
Sheffield Wednesday's Relegation Battle
The interest from Sheffield Wednesday comes as the Championship club fights for its survival. The Owls are currently bottom of the league and are staring at relegation to League One, a situation compounded by a 12-point deduction. Their form has been poor, managing just a single win this season.
Despite their struggles, the club is showing ambition by targeting a player of Fosu-Mensah's pedigree. Among the few bright spots at Hillsborough has been the performances of Manchester United loanee Harry Amass.
A Career Forged at Old Trafford
Fosu-Mensah's career began with a memorable debut at Manchester United, where he was given his first-team bow by Louis van Gaal on the same day as Marcus Rashford. He went on to make 30 first-team appearances for the Red Devils, with 11 of those coming under the management of Jose Mourinho.
The right-back has spoken highly of Mourinho's influence, crediting the Portuguese manager with helping his development. "I was still a teenager when Jose Mourinho arrived, and he helped me mature into becoming a man in footballing terms," Fosu-Mensah told The Sun in February 2024. "Jose was tough on young players with his demands, but in a good way, because he wanted you to be ready to represent a club the size of Manchester United."
Ultimately, seeking more regular playing time, Fosu-Mensah made the decision to leave Old Trafford. "It was my decision. The manager was good to me but at the end, I was not playing a lot," he explained. "When you are 22, 23, or 24 years old you need to be playing."
His subsequent move to Leverkusen did not yield the minutes he had hoped for, with the defender accumulating just 1,050 minutes of action. Now, as a free agent, his primary goals are clear. In an interview last year, he stated his desire to "stay injury free in order to play and perform at the highest level" and to "win more trophies." A move to Sheffield Wednesday would offer him a crucial pathway back into professional football.
