The race for teenage football talent is heating up globally, with clubs vying to secure the next big star. Manchester City is no exception, as the Premier League giants have completed the signing of Sheffield Wednesday’s 15-year-old sensation Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri, in a deal worth £1.5 million.
According to TransferMarkets, the initial instalment to be paid by Manchester City is reported to be around £900,000. Although that figure may seem modest for a player of Cadamarteri’s potential, it represents a much-needed financial injection for Sheffield Wednesday. The club, under the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri, is facing serious financial difficulties and has once again defaulted on wage payments.
However, Softfootball has learned that the club may not immediately benefit from the transfer fee. Due to Sheffield Wednesday’s current financial liabilities, the English Football League (EFL) is expected to direct a portion of the funds toward clearing outstanding debts before any money reaches Hillsborough.
Last month, the Owls were hit with a three-window transfer ban after failing to pay player wages for over 30 days. An appeal against the decision only made matters worse, as further sanctions were imposed following the revelation of additional unpaid debts to HMRC.
Despite the promising sale of Cadamarteri to Manchester City, the financial reality at the club remains bleak. Several players have handed in notice due to unpaid wages. While some received late payment for May, others weren’t paid at all—and as of June 30th, no salaries had been disbursed.
Club owner Dejphon Chansiri has already been charged by the EFL for failing to meet wage obligations for both March and May. Though he has expressed a willingness to sell the club, Chansiri insists he will only do so at a valuation that reflects the £37.5 million he paid for the club back in 2015.
Adding to the club’s instability, Sheffield Wednesday could soon face a managerial crisis. The future of manager Danny Röhl remains uncertain, with talks still unresolved and the new season just six weeks away. The Owls are scheduled to open their campaign against Leicester City, but their current situation raises serious concerns about their readiness.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are not done in the transfer window, as Softfootball can also confirm that they are trying to get Newcastle’s right-back Tino Livramento following the recent signings of Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Rayan Cherki ahead of the Club World Cup.
If Sheffield Wednesday is to mount a credible challenge in the Championship next season, urgent steps will need to be taken to stabilize both the club’s finances and its leadership.
