Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday Forced to Sell Svante Ingelsson Over Unpaid Debt

Sheffield Wednesday could be forced to sell Svante Ingelsson due to an as-yet unpaid debt, sources close to Hillsborough last night claimed.

The Swede, who has been heavily linked with fellow Championship strugglers Portsmouth, is one of the most experienced players at embattled head coach Henrik Pedersen’s disposal with Owls' stalwart Barry Bannan joining Millwall.

Wednesday tried everything to keep captain Bannan, with the player even keen to stay, but he’s set to join Millwall as the club needed to offload his wages to help cover mounting debts.

Losing Ingelsson would deal a major blow to The Owls’ hopes of finishing the season with a degree of respectability, as they slide towards relegation thanks to two points deductions imposed as a result of the club’s financial implosion under former owner Dejphon Chansiri. 

But it is understood that they have yet to settle an undisclosed sum, owed to the 27-year-old’s representatives, thought to relate to his switch to South Yorkshire in June 2024.

Begbies Traynor, the administrators tasked with guiding Wednesday through one of the most tumultuous periods in their entire history, have indicated that they could be forced to offload some of the remaining talent available to Pedersen in order to ensure continued cashflow.

Allowing Ingelsson to depart, with any fee raised helping to settle The Owls’ obligations to his advisor, could be one way of doing that although neither BT, Pedersen or the midfielder himself have commented on reports suggesting he could be heading to Fratton Park.

Wednesay Woes Continue

Ingelsson has made nearly 70 appearances for Wednesday since arriving from Hansa Rostock two seasons ago. He previously represented teams including Kalmar, Udinese and Pescara before heading to England via Germany. Ingelsson was also capped 14 times by his country at under-21 level, and has featured 28 times under Pedersen so far this term.

BT had hoped to have found a buyer for Wednesday over Christmas, having named a consortium being fronted by US based poker player and entrepreneur James Bord as preferred bidders. 

But the English Football League, who must ratify Bord before he is unveiled, have yet to complete the due diligence tests he must pass before being given the green light to succeed Chansiri.