Leicester City confirmed the loan exit of midfielder Hamza Choudhury to Championship title challengers Sheffield this week.
Choudhury became the second Leicester City player to depart this month after Tom Cannon sealed a £10m transfer to Sheffield United.
The 27-year-old rarely featured for the Foxes this term, accumulating just 130 minutes across four Premier League appearances.
The Leicester academy graduate found himself low down the pecking order at the King Power Stadium, with Ruud van Nistelrooy preferring Boubakary Soumare, Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp instead of him.
It’s become clear throughout his Leicester career that Choudhury isn’t a Premier League player, although he’s someone who can excel in the Championship.
Ruud van Nistelrooy explains Hamza Choudhury departure to Sheffield United
Van Nistelrooy confirmed Choudhury would leave Leicester after their win over Tottenham, with the combative midfielder joining the Blades with an option to sign permanently in the summer.
The Bangladesh international has always been the ultimate professional, even when he’s been left out of the squad, and now the Dutchman has explained why he let him leave.
Speaking in Thursday’s press conference ahead of Leicester’s clash with Everton, the 48-year-old said: “He’s a player that needs minutes. With the midfielders we have in his position, it made his minutes lower. So it was important for him to play. The player wanted that, it’s good for the club and the player so it’s a good move.”
Predictably, Van Nistelrooy leaned on Choudhury’s lack of game time as a reason for his exit. He’s now set to play a huge role in Sheffield United’s push for the Championship title, starting against Derby County on Saturday.
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Hamza Choudhury’s first words after sealing Sheffield United move
It was ultimately the correct move to loan out the midfielder, whose minutes for the rest of the season at Leicester were going to be limited.
However, Choudhury’s switch to Bramall Lane sees him work under Chris Wilder again after briefly playing under the Englishman during a loan spell at Watford a couple of years ago.
Addressing the media after completing the move, Choudhury pinpointed the above and the opportunity for more game time as two points that caught his eye.
“It has been going on for a couple of weeks but I’m happy to be here and ready to get going,” he said via Sheffield United’s official website. “I’ve seen the position that the team has put itself in and I want to come here and help.
“I worked with the gaffer for a couple of months at Watford, it was short, but I enjoyed it, so when he called there was only one answer from me. I’ve played here a couple of times and the atmosphere is always amazing. It is an attractive club for anyone and it is a really good fit for me and my family.”
Choudhury moving out of the club has freed up extra space in Van Nistelrooy’s squad, with Leicester frustratingly eyeing players on loan as opposed to permanent signings.
This is a transfer stance that has annoyed Leicester supporters and could cost them in the fight against relegation while Choudhury battles for promotion.