Kyle Walker has sparked fresh speculation about a potential return to his boyhood club, Sheffield United, as reports suggest the Championship side could pursue the Manchester City defender next summer.
The 34-year-old started his career at Bramall Lane, where he broke into senior football before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2009 and eventually to City in 2017. Since joining Pep Guardiola’s side, Walker has made over 300 appearances and amassed a glittering trophy haul, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and a Champions League.
However, this season has been challenging for City, with the team enduring a seven-game winless run. Their 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday left them 11 points adrift of the Premier League leaders after 13 games. Amid this downturn in form, a report from talkSPORT claims Walker is among several players City might consider offloading at the end of the season. Sheffield United, currently leading the Championship, are said to be interested in bringing their former star back.
The article also mentions that clubs from Saudi Arabia and MLS could vie for Walker’s signature. However, Walker’s long-standing affection for Sheffield United has fueled speculation about a potential return.
In a March interview on Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE podcast, Walker made his feelings clear:
“I’d like to finish at Sheffield United. That’s something I would actually like to do. I was there from such a young age… If I can give back or even pass on my experience to the younger players, I’d like to.” He added that the club holds a special place in his heart despite only making a handful of appearances before leaving.
Walker doubled down on this sentiment in September on his BBC podcast, ‘You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker’, stating:
“That would be the icing on the cake for me [finishing at Sheffield United]. I wouldn’t even mind if I didn’t play—just to be there, pass on my knowledge, and help others. But, of course, I’d love to pull on the shirt one last time and run out onto the pitch.”
The possibility of a Sheffield United return remains uncertain, but Walker’s consistent admiration for the club suggests it would be a fitting final chapter to an illustrious career.
