Exclusive: Championship club make approach for Sheffield Wednesday defender with further contract talks expected

An unnamed Championship club approached Sheffield Wednesday recently regarding the availability of Ernie Weaver, The Wednesday Word understands.

Weaver raised eyebrows last year with some standout performances in the Owls backline, and was a key figure as the club went on a three-game unbeaten run during arguably the brightest spell of a dismal campaign.

Sadly the 19-year-old was then forced to undergo an operation that saw him miss a huge chunk of the 2026/27 season, but he certainly left his mark before being ruled out. He’s undergone months of rehabilitation now, and it’s expected that he’ll be fully fit by the time Wednesday return for preseason.

It was confirmed recently that the Owls had exercised their one-year option in the centre back’s contract, but TWW has also previously reported that further talks are expected that would see potentially see him commit his more long-term future to his boyhood club.

As The Star’s Alex Miller stated recently, it would appear that final budgets have not yet been finalised, and it could be that further progress is made with Weaver – as well as his Wednesday teammates – in the next couple of weeks once that has changed.

Ernie Weaver is of interest to other clubs

The talented teenager is seen as a bright prospect by Henrik Pedersen, but it’s no surprise that he’s caught the eye of potential suitors elsewhere, too. TWW is of the understanding that a second-tier club have been in touch with the Owls to declare their interest in the academy graduate, but that that approach was knocked back by Wednesday.

It’s still early doors in Arise’s ownership and the transfer window hasn’t even opened yet, but already things are moving. Incoming Sporting Director, Simon Wilson, and the rest of Wednesday’s recruitment team are set to have their hands full in what’s expected to be one of the club’s busiest summers in recent memory.

Negotiations should ramp up in June once budgets are agreed upon, and after new CEO, David Bruce, admitted that there’d already been interest in their players from other clubs, it could be a fascinating couple of months’ ahead.

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