Sheffield United is getting closer to making a top-flight transfer move in Europe. It might cost more than £8 million.

Sheffield United is getting closer to signing Braga midfielder Djibril Soumare on loan; if promotion is won in the 2025–2026 Championship season, Soumare will become a permanent member of Ruben Selles’ team.

According to Portuguese publication Record on Sunday afternoon, Soumare is headed to sign an initial loan agreement with the Blades, potentially making him the Championship promotion contenders’ third summer transfer acquisition under new head coach Selles.

As part of Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy’s hiring strategy, United has acquired Tyler Bindon on loan from Nottingham Forest and Ehjie Ukaki, another AI-driven acquisition. Meanwhile, Selles signed Aston Villa forward Louie Barry while he was manager of Championship opponent Hull City, and the two are expected to negotiate another loan agreement early this week.

After Football League World exclusively revealed this strategy, Selles, who took over as manager after Chris Wilder was controversially fired at the MKM Stadium despite keeping the Tigers in the Championship on the last day of the previous season, confirmed during the Blades’ preseason tour of Spain that his team would be looking to make free and loan transfers for the time being this summer.

With at least seven temporary additions approved by former manager Wilder during the season, United made good use of the loan market in the previous campaign, winning 92 points and finishing in third place before losing to Sunderland in the May play-off final at Wembley.

Sheffield United is expected to acquire Djibril Soumare from Braga.

Soumare is “on his way” to the Championship with Sheffield United, per the previously cited report.

The 22-year-old is reportedly getting closer to finalizing a move to South Yorkshire, which would become permanent if Selles’ team wins promotion the following season, by missing Braga’s recent preseason match against Celta Vigo over the weekend.

According to reports, United would pay €1.1 million (£952,000) in loan fees to sign Soumare for the season. If he is promoted, his stay would have to be permanent, with a €8.5 million (£7.3 million) purchase obligation.

Braga may also have a 15% sell-on clause because the Portuguese team anticipates that Soumare will step up and advance after a strong season on loan at Liga Portugal team Nacional.

The defensive midfielder played regularly for Nacional, making 25 matches, although he has only ever made two appearances for Braga.

Djibril Soumare of Braga is a mystery for Sheffield United.

Given that Soumare is a completely unknown quantity on English soil and has only made 27 professional games in Portugal, it’s difficult to know exactly what to make of Sheffield United’s most recent upcoming acquisition.

The decision to sign him on loan and possibly permanently, however, suggests that United feels confident in his abilities. Supporters, who are anxious to see a suitable replacement for Vini Souza after the midfielder joined Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga earlier this month, should find some comfort in that.

It looks like Soumare is being brought in to replace Souza, and considering the Brazilian’s tough performances at the center of Wilder’s midfield last season, he will have huge shoes to fill.

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