Callum O’Hare has signed a four-year deal with Sheffield United after leaving Coventry City as a free agent this summer.

It had been widely anticipated that O’Hare would leave the Sky Blues when his contract expired at the end of June, with several top-flight clubs showing interest in him.

Coventry reportedly offered the attacking midfielder a new contract, which he declined. Earlier reports suggested that O’Hare, an Aston Villa academy product, was on the radar of West Ham United, according to The Guardian. Additionally, Burnley, and the recently promoted Leicester City and Southampton had all previously made offers for him, as per HITC/Graeme Bailey. Other interested clubs included Aston Villa, Fulham, Celtic, Rangers, and several unnamed Spanish teams.

TEAMtalk also noted that Leeds had been tracking O’Hare for some time, while the Sheffield Star reported the Blades’ successful pursuit of his signature. O’Hare ended his successful five-year stint with Coventry by letting his contract expire, making him a highly sought-after free agent at 26.

Neil Littlewood, a Coventry fan pundit for FLW, shared his thoughts on O’Hare’s departure, expressing doubt about the reception he might receive when returning to the Coventry Building Society Arena next season.

“I think it’s a sideways move, in many ways,” Littlewood said. “He’s going to get a good payday, but Sheffield United’s financial situation isn’t great. He said he wanted to play Premier League football, but nothing materialized.”

Littlewood speculated that O’Hare’s agent might have influenced his decision, noting that his stats last season—31 league games, six goals, three assists—didn’t make him a standout marquee signing. He expressed concerns about Sheffield United’s ability to retain key players and turn around their mentality after a tough season at Bramall Lane.

“Good luck to Callum; he’s been a great servant to us. But from a Coventry perspective, it’s a confusing move. Mark Robins and Doug King didn’t think he was worth the money he and his agent were asking for, so we went a different route. He won’t get the hero’s reception he might have expected.”

O’Hare appears to have returned to form following a lengthy ACL injury last year. With Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer leaving last season, O’Hare had become one of the biggest fan favorites at Coventry.

Despite his popularity, Coventry fans are puzzled by his move to Sheffield United, given the interest from top-flight and foreign clubs. For Sheffield United, O’Hare’s ability to thrive in transition and his versatility make him a valuable addition, especially since there was no transfer fee involved. His profile and versatility provide a cost-effective alternative to more expensive players, making him a significant acquisition for the Blades.