Tom Cannon stands as one of Sheffield United’s most important investments over the last several years. The £10 million transfer fee makes him the club’s eighth most expensive signing. The 22-year-old striker took time to find his feet, scoring his first goal after 13 appearances, but we believe he brings huge potential to our promotion campaign.
Cannon’s path to Sheffield United in 2025 shows an impressive rise through English football. His football education began at Everton’s youth academy from 2012 to 2022. The young striker gained valuable Championship experience through loan spells that proved quite successful. He netted 8 goals in 21 appearances at Preston North End and followed it up with 11 goals in 25 games at Stoke City. The club’s steadfast dedication to his development shows in the four-year contract they offered him. The timing couldn’t have been better – Sheffield United stood just one point off the Championship table’s top spot with 18 games left. This created the perfect opportunity for an ambitious young striker ready to prove himself.
Let’s get into Cannon’s trip so far, what he adds to the Blades, his early challenges, and of course, why he might be that final piece we need in our promotion puzzle.
Tom Cannon’s Journey to Sheffield United
Tom Cannon’s journey started in Liverpool when Everton scouts spotted him at age 10. He steadily climbed through the academy ranks and made his first-team debut against Bournemouth in a League Cup match in December 2022. His time with Everton’s senior squad was brief, but his sharp finishing skills shone through during training sessions and youth games.
A loan move to Preston North End in January 2023 changed his career by a lot. He took some time to crack the starting lineup but found his groove under Ryan Lowe, who loved his “natural striker’s instinct.” The fans at Deepdale quickly warmed to his knack of finding space in packed penalty areas and finishing with either foot.
Leicester City saw something special in Cannon after his return to Everton and bought him for £7.5 million in August 2023. The young striker faced tough competition for playing time from more experienced forwards at the King Power Stadium. The club ended up deciding he needed a temporary move elsewhere.
Stoke City proved the perfect fit. Alex Neil’s system played right into Cannon’s strengths with quick counter-attacks and crosses from the wings. He scored goals regularly for the Potters, which caught many Championship clubs’ attention, including Sheffield United.
The Blades stepped up their chase for Cannon in early 2025. They needed more firepower for their promotion push. After two weeks of talks, they struck a deal worth up to £12 million with add-ons. This made him one of the Championship’s most expensive signings that season and showed how serious the club was about getting him.
Cannon couldn’t wait to work with Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane. “I’ve watched how Sheffield United play and believe this system will bring out the best in me. The club’s ambition matches mine, and I’m determined to help bring Premier League football back to these fans,” he said.
Sheffield United’s four-year contract shows their faith in the young striker. They included bonuses based on goals and appearances to reward his contributions.
What Cannon Brings to the Blades
The numbers behind Tom Cannon’s performances explain why Sheffield United spent big money on this young striker. His goal-scoring talent and technical skills give us a peek at what he brings to the Blades’ promotion campaign, even though he’s still growing as a player.
Goal-scoring record and stats
Cannon’s natural finishing ability shows in his impressive Championship numbers. His loan spell at Stoke City saw him score 11 goals in just 25 appearances. He tied for sixth place among the EFL Championship’s top scorers with 9 league goals before getting recalled.
A closer look at his stats shows why scouts’ attention is drawn to his talents. He scores 0.35 goals per 90 minutes, putting him in the 93rd percentile compared to other players. More than that, his expected goals (xG) sits at 0.41 per 90 minutes (96th percentile). This shows he knows how to find prime scoring positions.
Cannon’s clinical finishing makes him special. His shot accuracy of 64.29% (90th percentile) and shot conversion rate of 17.86% (75th percentile) mean he needs fewer chances to score. His four-goal performance against Portsmouth for Stoke expresses his ability to dominate games.
Versatility in forward positions
Cannon does much more than just score goals. His smarterscout analytics reveal he takes many shots for his touch count and carries the ball with high dribble volume. This shows he’s willing to challenge defenders instead of waiting for passes.
Playing under Narcis Pelach at Stoke helped Cannon grow his game by a lot. He got better at winning aerial duels and setting up teammates with flick-ons. He also knows how to press smartly—he picks the right moments to hold position or trigger the press. This fits perfectly with Sheffield United’s style of play.
Experience in the Championship
At only 22, Cannon has played 46 Championship games with Preston North End and Stoke City. His time in Leicester City’s Championship-winning campaign last season taught him what it takes to earn promotion.
The most exciting part? Cannon scores more than expected in the Championship, netting 10 goals from an xG of just 6. This finishing quality sets great strikers apart from the rest.
Challenges and Criticism So Far
Tom Cannon’s experience at Sheffield United hasn’t matched the excitement that came with his £10 million transfer. The young striker faces multiple challenges at Bramall Lane that no one predicted.
Injury setbacks and limited minutes
Tom Cannon barely settled into Sheffield United when injuries disrupted his progress. His ankle gave way during the first five minutes against Middlesbrough in February. The sight of Cannon wearing a protective boot after the game showed how serious things were. His game time tells the story – just 384 minutes across eight appearances, with only four starts to his name. This stop-and-start beginning has knocked his confidence and rhythm on the pitch.
Tactical mismatch with current system
The biggest problem lies in how Cannon fits with Wilder’s system. The stats paint a clear picture – the former Leicester striker touches the ball less than 18 times per game and completes only 65% of his passes. He loses the ball 24 times (six times per game) and wins less than 25% of his ground and aerial duels. A fan summed it up perfectly: “He wants to be on the shoulder of center-halves and to have something to run onto. We more often try to play a more intricate, passing game”. This explains why Cannon has managed only three shots on target in a Sheffield United shirt.
Fan reactions and media scrutiny
The fans don’t hold back about Cannon’s transfer anymore. After his debut, someone posted: “£10 million for Tom Cannon,” with several laughing emojis. Some draw parallels to Ryan Brewster’s tough spell at the club. In spite of that, Chris Wilder stands by his signing: “It’ll happen. It’ll happen… I thought the crowd’s reaction to him was really good. There’s no blame culture here”. The manager believes Cannon “is going to be a good player for us” and asks for patience as criticism grows.
Why He Could Still Be the Missing Piece
“Everybody knows the size of the club, and the fanbase. I am just delighted to be here and after speaking to the manager, I heard nothing but good words about the place. I am just looking forward to it.” — Tom Cannon, Sheffield United striker, former Leicester City and Everton player
Tom Cannon’s start at Bramall Lane hasn’t been smooth sailing, but signs point to his transfer becoming a smart investment for Sheffield United. The striker’s qualities could give the Blades exactly what they need for their promotion push.
Potential under Chris Wilder’s system
Chris Wilder remains confident about his £10 million acquisition. “He’s an English No.9, with pace and physicality and directness in his play, and we know what a good finisher he is”. The tom cannon sheffield united transfer stands as “a super signing” that ticks “every box” in the club’s recruitment strategy. Wilder can foresee Cannon as a forward who can “play on the shoulder and stretch the game”. The Blades have missed this element this season.
Partnerships with Brereton-Diaz and Moore
The striker combinations look promising. Wilder paired Cannon with Kieffer Moore against Burnley because he thought “it was right to put pace alongside Kieffer Moore”. Ben Brereton-Diaz could provide the creative spark Cannon needs. Brereton-Diaz’s stats show he ranked in the “81st percentile for carries into the penalty area” during his previous Sheffield United spell.
Long-term development and age advantage
Cannon’s youth stands as his biggest asset at 22 years old. His four-year contract includes an option for an additional 12 months, showing the club’s steadfast dedication. Wilder highlighted this at the reveal: “He is of a good age to develop but also has the experience of this level, both important factors”. The £25,000-a-week striker shows promise as “a Premier League striker in waiting”.
Comparison with past signings like Brewster
Cannon differs from Rhian Brewster’s £23.5 million signing. Brewster arrived with limited senior experience, while Cannon has proven himself at Championship level with Preston and Stoke. This makes him a safer bet. Transfer expert Graeme Bailey shared: “They are confident he will come good… he was signed not just for the short-term”. Sheffield United’s recruitment team based their decision on detailed data analysis. Wilder noted Cannon’s stats put him “right up there”.
Tom Cannon – Verdict
Tom Cannon’s time at Sheffield United hasn’t matched the fairy tale many fans hoped to see. In spite of that, we need patience to see how he affects our promotion hopes. His proven Championship scoring record at Preston and Stoke shows the clinical finishing that made us invest £10 million.
Cannon has the raw attributes Chris Wilder picked out as missing from our attack, even though he’s had a rough start. His pace, directness, and skill to play off defenders’ shoulders give us new tactical options. At just 22 years old, he’s both an immediate choice and a future investment.
People naturally compare him to Rhian Brewster, but there are big differences. Cannon comes with solid Championship experience and knows what this tough league needs. His stats show he scores more than expected goals suggest—exactly what we need in tight promotion battles.
Chris Wilder’s steadfast dedication tells us a lot about the club’s faith in Cannon’s skills. The manager sees qualities that haven’t shown up yet at Bramall Lane. Cannon’s four-year contract gives him plenty of time to grow alongside strikers like Moore and Brereton-Diaz.
Getting back to the Premier League needs patience, calculated risks, and smart investments. Early results might not show it, but Cannon could still be the missing piece in our promotion puzzle. His story so far shows us that rushing to judge young talent doesn’t work. Sheffield United’s promotion hopes might depend on bringing out the deadly striker we saw at Stoke—a challenge Wilder and his coaches seem ready to take on.
