In a game dominated by big money moves in the modern era, sometimes, the best transfer deals are the ones where the player costs absolutely nothing, and that’s certainly the case for Sheffield Wednesday.
The club has been through a number of rebuilds and reworks over the last few years, as the Owls clawed their way out of League One and built a squad capable of competing in the Championship.
Managerial changes, naturally, lead to more overhaul in the playing squad, too, but Danny Rohl inherited one player in particular from the previous regime that has served him admirably.
Now, after the win over Norwich City on Tuesday night, one journalist has hailed a member of the Sheffield Wednesday first-team squad as one of the club’s best ever signings.
Marvin Johnson cost Sheffield Wednesday nothing
Joe Crann has been waxing lyrical about Marvin Johnson in the wake of that victory, and claimed the 33-year-old is right up there as one of the most impressive acquisitions Wednesday has made in recent years.
Signed on a free transfer from Middlesbrough back in 2021, Johnson has now made 140 appearances for the club and continues to be one of Rohl’s most influential players.
Taking to X/Twitter, Crann said: “Taking everything into account, I can’t think of many better free agent signings for Sheffield Wednesday than Marvin Johnson in recent years… He’s been terrific value.”
Creative masterclass from Marvin Johnson vs Norwich
Indeed, Johnson was one of the stars of the game for the Owls as they triumphed over Norwich at Hillsborough on Tuesday night.
With Rohl switching things up to introduce a three-man defence, Johnson was given extra license to roam forward, and influenced the game early on with a superb assist for the opening goal from Josh Windass.
His beautifully weighted ball between the lines gave Wednesday the killer start they needed in a high pressure game, and he was a constant thorn in the sides of the Norwich defenders throughout the first half.
With his vision and excellent range of passing ability, Johnson is one of the most creative players in the Wednesday squad, and clearly thrives in that wing-back role.
Johnson could retire today and still have done more than enough to be regarded as one of Sheffield Wednesday’s best signings of the last decade.