Callum O’Hare explains motivation for move from Coventry City to Sheffield Utd (2024)

Callum O’Hare has explained the motivation behind his decision to leave Coventry City and join Championship promotion rivals Sheffield United.

The 26-year-old brought an end to five years with the Sky Blues this month when he left the club as a free agent after running down his contract, having turned down fresh terms to extend his stay at the CBS Arena.

There was surprise from many City fans who feel he’s made a sideways move to the Blades when most thought he was angling for a switch to the Premier League.

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Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield after scoring in a 4-1 pre-season win at Harrogate Town, the attacking midfielder suggested part of the reason he wanted to go to United was to “play all the time,” revealing that he was “frustrated” after being left out of the team by Mark Robins following his outstanding comeback from injury when he scored a flurry of goals in a short space of time midway through last season.

Asked why he chose Sheffield United, O’Hare said: “The manager had the trust in me. I know that there were a lot of teams interested but, for me, it’s just about playing football and showing what I can do. So I feel like after the last couple of years that I have had, being able to do that and show everyone what I can do is what I want to do this year, and that’s the main reason why I came here, to get the chance to play all the time. That’s what I love doing the most and what footballers want to do, play football.

“Obviously I got injured and came back and I was flying. And then things happened and I was took out of the team, so it was just a frustrating one. I just want to be playing football, so, for me the motivation is to just get on the pitch and excite the fans and win football games, and that’s what I am here to do.”

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Callum O’Hare explains motivation for move from Coventry City to Sheffield Utd (1)

Having gone agonisingly close in 2023 and fallen just short in 2024, anticipation is building that Coventry City can make it third time lucky with a successful promotion push in 2025.

Consecutive trips to Wembley for the Championship play-off final and an FA Cup semi-final suggests something special is happening with the Sky Blues – a club that’s been on an upward curve on the pitch for the last seven years under manager Mark Robins.

The arrival of new owner Doug King has also brought stability and investment in the club’s infrastructure with a major refurbishment of the club’s Ryton training base transforming what was a tired facility into an elite level complex.

Throw in a new-look squad built from high profile sales last summer, and added to again in the current transfer window, and fans can see the makings of a side equipped to go one better this time around.

Five players have been added so far with a bit of wing wizardry in the form of Ephron Mason-Clark from Peterborough United and Raphael Borges Rodrigues from Australian A-League side Macarthur FC, the re-signing of centre-half Luis Binks on a permanent deal from Bologna and the exciting attacking addition of Jack Rudoni from Huddersfield – a dynamic midfielder who can operate as a box-to-box eight or goal-getting 10 supplying the strikers.

Swedish goalkeeper Oliver Dovin has also joined from Hammarby and a replacement front man for Matty Godden surely not too far away.

Success will not come easy, of course, in a hugely competitive division with Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United parachuting down from the Prem and looking for a swift return, while the likes of Leeds and Norwich will again be among the favourites to return to the top table of English football.

Whichever way you look at it, this is a great time to be a Sky Blues fan - and to celebrate the optimism at the CBS, where more than 21,000 season ticket holders have committed to the new campaign, we’ve produced a Coventry City 2024/25 Kick Off special, our brilliant guide to the new season.

Our man at City, Andy Turner, will waltz you through what to expect from the Sky Blues in 2024/25, turn the spotlight on Robins and pinpoint what could be the key to success.

Our club-by-club guide gives you the lowdown on City’s Championship rivals and the managers in the division, while our away-day pages will tell you all you need to know about the grounds Coventry will be visiting.

With a full fixture list and key dates for the campaign, Coventry City 2024/25 Kick-Off will get you in perfect match shape in time for the Sky Blues’ opening day curtain-raiser at Stoke City on Saturday, August 10.

Order your copy now from our online store and get it delivered direct to your door.

On sale in selected independent retailers and supermarkets in Coventry and Warwickshire priced at £3.50 from Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Worldwide shipping available, postage and packaging applies.

Asked about how he would be deployed and whether playing in the number ten role was key to him joining the Blades, O’Hare added: “The way he [Chris Wilder] explained it seemed familiar to me, so I felt like I could come in and flourish here.

“Obviously I know a few of the players already, which helped too. They know my game and as you saw today, Sam (McCallum) played me and I scored, so we have already got connections and everything just fitted nicely and I thought that at this time it’s the right thing to do.”

O’Hare also knows Gus Hamer pretty well. Asked if he gave him and McCallum a ring to find out what the lie of the land is, he revealed: “They were ringing me, saying ‘Cal come,’ and I was asking them what it is like, so yeah, they were just saying everything the manager was saying. “Obviously I am here now and just can’t wait for the season to get going.”

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Callum O’Hare explains motivation for move from Coventry City to Sheffield Utd (2024)

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