Canadian international forward Ike Ugbo joins Sheffield Wednesday on loan

Jan 11, 2024 | 9:14 AM

SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom — Canadian international forward Ike Ugbo has joined Sheffield Wednesday in England’s second-tier Championship on loan from French Ligue 2 side Troyes for the rest of the season.

Ugbo had been on loan to Cardiff City, another Championship side, but was recalled after scoring four goals in 22 competitive appearances with the Bluebirds.

Sheffield Wednesday (6-16-4) sits 22nd in the 24-team Championship. Cardiff City (11-11-4) is ninth.

The 25-year-old Ugbo was born in London, England, but moved to Brampton, Ont., with his family when he was four. He has won eight caps for Canada.

He started his career with Chelsea’s academy before loans to Barnsley, MK Dons, Scunthorpe United, Roda JC in the Netherlands and Belgium’s Cercle Brugge.

Ugbo signed with Belgium’s Genk in August 2021 before being loaned to Troyes in January 2022, making the move permanent that June on a four-year contract.

Ugbo represented England at the under-17 and under-20 level before switching his allegiance to Canada. He was part of John Herdman’s World Cup squad in 2022 in Qatar but did not see action at the tournament.

He will wear No. 12 with Sheffield Wednesday, which founded in 1867 by members of the Wednesday Cricket Club. The team prides itself as the fifth-oldest professional football club in England.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2024.

The Canadian Press