Sheffield Wednesday has announced the departure of seven players following the expiration of their contracts.
Under the management of Danny Rohl, The Owls concluded the Championship season in 12th position.
The club confirmed today that Stuart Armstrong, Ben Hamer, Ryo Hatsuse, Michael Ihiekwe, Marvin Johnson, Pol Valentin, and Mallik Wilks are all leaving as their deals have come to an end.
Stuart Armstrong, a 33-year-old midfielder who represented Scotland at last summer`s Euro 2024 tournament, is departing after a brief four-month spell with the club, during which he made only 11 appearances.
Marvin Johnson`s four-year tenure at Hillsborough concludes after he featured 169 times for Wednesday.
Other first-team players Pol Valentin and Michael Ihiekwe are also among those released.
Veteran goalkeeper Ben Hamer is leaving the club without having made a single appearance. Mallik Wilks also departs permanently after spending the season on loan at Rotherham.
However, the club has faced criticism from some fans regarding the decision to release Ryo Hatsuse so soon after he joined from Japanese side Vissel Kobe. The left-back played just six games for Wednesday. One supporter expressed their disappointment online, stating, “Should genuinely be ashamed of bringing him over to the UK for three months just to let him go.”
Additional fan comments included remarks such as, “He was the most pointless signing ever,” and sarcastically, “Hatsuse and Armstrong just came for a holiday in the lovely city of Sheffield.”
In other contract news, Sheffield Wednesday confirmed that they have activated extension options for Anthony Musaba, Michael Smith, and Josh Windass.
Club captain and legend Barry Bannan, alongside teammates Akin Famewo and Callum Paterson, have been offered new contracts by the club.
Furthermore, loanees James Beadle, Ibrahim Cissoko, and Shea Charles will return to their respective parent clubs.
