Sheffield United are contemplating a move for the 25-year-old winger who was signed for £11m.

Sheffield United are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Wales international winger Rabbi Matondo as Chris Wilder continues to assess options for strengthening his attacking department ahead of the new campaign.

The 25-year-old wide player, who previously spent time at Rangers, has emerged as a potential target for the Blades after an unpredictable few years in his career. Although Matondo was once regarded as one of British football’s brightest young prospects, his journey has not unfolded as many expected. Even so, Sheffield United are believed to feel that the winger still possesses the qualities to make an impact at Championship level.

Brann winger Rabbi Matondo is a senior Wales international. | Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images

Matondo’s football journey began in the youth ranks of Cardiff City before he joined Manchester City’s prestigious academy. During his teenage years, he attracted significant attention thanks to his blistering pace, technical ability and attacking flair. Those performances quickly established him as one of the most exciting young talents in the country, with many believing he had the potential to develop into a top-level winger.

Internationally, Matondo initially represented England at youth level before opting to switch his allegiance to Wales. Since making that decision, he has gone on to feature for the Welsh senior national team, adding valuable international experience to his résumé while competing alongside several established professionals.

Despite the enormous expectations surrounding him, Matondo struggled to consistently establish himself after leaving Manchester City. German club Schalke 04 invested heavily in his potential when they reportedly paid around £11 million to sign him in January 2019. The sizeable transfer fee reflected the confidence the Bundesliga side had in his long-term development and highlighted the reputation he had built as one of Europe’s promising young attackers.

However, Matondo found it difficult to produce the level of consistency required during his time in Germany. While there were flashes of his talent, injuries, changes in management and competition for places limited his opportunities to fully showcase his abilities. As a result, he was unable to build the momentum that many believed would follow such a high-profile move.

Rabbi Matondo counts Rangers among his former clubs. | Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

His career later took him to Rangers, where hopes were again high that a fresh start could help him rediscover the form that had once made him one of Britain’s most exciting prospects. Although he produced occasional moments of quality during his spell in Scotland, he was unable to become a regular standout performer. Competition for places and inconsistent form meant that he never truly cemented himself as a key player at Ibrox.

Earlier this year, Matondo sought another fresh challenge by joining Norwegian side Brann in March. The move appeared to offer him the opportunity to rebuild his confidence and secure regular first-team football in a different environment. However, his stay in Norway may prove to be a brief one.

According to reports from Norwegian publication Bergensavisen, Matondo could already be on the verge of leaving Brann despite making only three appearances for the club. That development has reportedly alerted Sheffield United, who are now evaluating whether a deal could be completed before the transfer window closes.

At this stage, it remains uncertain exactly what type of agreement Sheffield United would pursue. The club are believed to be weighing up both a permanent transfer and a possible loan arrangement, depending on the financial terms involved and Brann’s willingness to negotiate.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Matondo has been linked with a move to South Yorkshire. During the January 2025 transfer window, Sheffield Wednesday were reported to have shown an interest in bringing the winger to Hillsborough. Although that move never materialised, it demonstrated that Championship clubs have continued to monitor his situation despite the setbacks he has experienced throughout his career.

There remains a belief in many football circles that Matondo still has significant untapped potential. At just 25 years of age, he has plenty of time to revive his career and fulfil at least some of the promise that surrounded him as a teenager. His pace, dribbling ability and versatility across attacking positions remain qualities that could prove valuable if he can rediscover his confidence and maintain consistency.

Matondo also has previous Championship experience, having spent time on loan with Stoke City in 2021. While that spell produced mixed results, it provided him with valuable experience of English second-tier football and the physical demands associated with the division. That familiarity could make the transition easier should Sheffield United decide to pursue the move.

The Blades have already seen changes in their wide attacking options during the current transfer window. Winger Andre Brooks has departed Bramall Lane after completing a move to Norwich City, leaving Chris Wilder searching for suitable reinforcements to maintain competition and depth in the squad.

One addition has already arrived in the form of Romelle Donovan, who joined Sheffield United on loan from Brentford. The highly rated youngster is viewed as an exciting prospect capable of contributing immediately while continuing his long-term development under Wilder’s guidance.

Following Donovan’s arrival, Chris Wilder expressed his delight at securing the winger’s services and praised both his talent and potential.

The Sheffield United manager explained that the club had monitored Donovan’s progress for some time before completing the loan agreement. Wilder also revealed that recommendations from trusted coaches Keith Andrews and Jack Lester had further strengthened the club’s belief that Donovan would be an excellent addition to the squad.

According to Wilder, both Andrews and Lester think extremely highly of the young winger after working closely with him. He pointed to the fact that Donovan had already been trusted with opportunities in the Premier League as evidence of his quality and future potential.

Wilder also spoke positively about his conversations with Donovan, saying the player was enthusiastic about joining Sheffield United and eager to seize the opportunity presented to him. The manager believes the loan move represents an ideal next step in the youngster’s development while also strengthening the Blades’ attacking options for the upcoming season.

Should Sheffield United ultimately decide to move for Rabbi Matondo as well, the club would significantly increase competition in the wide areas. Whether through a permanent transfer or an initial loan deal, the Welsh international could be given another opportunity to reignite a career that once promised so much and prove that his best football still lies ahead.