A Good Move? How Will Jacob Butterfield Fare At Sheffield Wednesday
Butterfield completed a deadline day move from Derby County to Sheffield Wednesday, signing on a season-long loan. Sam Winnall went the other way as a part of a swap deal between the two Championship clubs. The transfer happened at the last minute, as both clubs left it late to complete their summer business.
Jacob Butterfield joined Derby on deadline day two years ago from Huddersfield Town. The midfielder went on to make 89 appearances for the Rams.
He started the first two games of this campaign but wasn’t selected for the previous three. Having seemingly fallen out of favour at Derby, he was quickly moved on by the Midlands club. Some may say that he has managed to make a step up by moving to Sheffield Wednesday.
Butterfield, who is 27, began his career at Barnsley. He joined the Yorkshire club, having been released by Manchester United at the age of 15. He was touted as a star of the future, and Barnsley offered him the chance to gain first-team experience.
He was impressive for Barnsley and went on to captain the club. Butterfield’s performances led to a call-up to the England U21 squad, where he made one appearance. At the time, plenty of Premier League clubs were beginning to show interest in the young midfielder.
In the end, Butterfield joined Norwich City. However, he failed to make the grade for the Canaries and did not play a single game in the Premier League.
After failing to make a breakthrough at Norwich, he had brief spells on loan at Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace. Eventually, he signed for Middlesbrough on a three-year contract in 2013. At the Riverside, he was joining a side who were beginning to show signs of a revival under Spanish coach Aitor Karanka.
Butterfield did reasonably well for Boro, scoring 3 goals in 31 appearances. Despite featuring many times for the club in the 2013/14 season, he was sold to Huddersfield in the summer, after only one year in the North-East. He was involved in another swap deal back then too. Butterfield signed for Huddersfield and Adam Clayton went the other way, in a like-for-like trade.
Back in his home of Yorkshire, he enjoyed happy times at Huddersfield, racking up 50 appearances for the club. However, this spell was also short lived and he went to Derby the following year.
A journeyman and an established Championship player, Butterfield has plenty to offer Sheffield Wednesday. He represents a solid signing for a club looking to finally gain promotion this season, after two play-offs heartaches in a row in the past two years.
What Butterfield really needs is stability. He has played for too many different clubs in his career and it has perhaps hindered his progress. His deal at Wednesday is only for a year but if he impresses, it may become permanent, or lead to another chance at Derby!
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