Club Connections | Sheffield United
As Swansea City gear up to face Sheffield United, we look back at some of the players who have represented both clubs over the years.
Oli McBurnie
Oli McBurnie is one of the more recent players to have represented both Swansea City and Sheffield United, making his mark at the Swans before earning a move to the Blades.
McBurnie joined Swansea from Bradford City in 2015 and initially spent time developing away from the first team, enjoying loan spells with Newport County and Bristol Rovers.
His breakthrough came during the 2016-17 campaign, when he scored twice on his Swansea first-team debut against Peterborough United in the League Cup.
After further opportunities with the first team, McBurnie spent the second half of the 2017-18 season on loan at Barnsley. His impressive form earned him the Championship Player of the Month award for February and a first Scotland call-up.
He returned to Swansea that summer and became an important figure in the Championship, scoring his first league goal for the club in a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at the start of the 2018-19 season.
McBurnie finished that campaign with 24 goals in all competitions before Sheffield United came calling. He spent five seasons at Bramall Lane, helping United win promotion back to the Premier League in 2022-23 after scoring 15 goals in all competitions.
His time at the club came to an end in 2024, with McBurnie subsequently moving to Las Palmas before returning to England with Hull City.
Kyle Naughton
Kyle Naughton has a strong connection with both clubs, having started his professional career with Sheffield United before becoming a Swansea City mainstay for a decade.
A product of the Blades' academy, Naughton broke into the Sheffield United first team during the 2008-09 season and quickly established himself as one of the Championship's most promising young defenders.
His performances earned him a move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2009, where he spent several seasons and enjoyed loan spells with Middlesbrough, Leicester City and Norwich City.
Naughton joined Swansea in January 2015 and went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club across a decade.
He became a key figure through several different eras at Swansea, playing in the Premier League before becoming an important member of the Championship sides that challenged for promotion.
His versatility also saw him operate in a number of positions, including centre-back and midfield, while he scored his first Swansea goal in a crucial 2-0 victory over Sunderland in May 2017 that helped secure Premier League survival.
Naughton reached the milestone of 300 Swansea appearances in February 2024 and remained with the club until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Craig Beattie
Craig Beattie's time with Swansea and Sheffield United came during a busy period in his career, with the Scottish striker representing the Blades before later moving to South Wales.
Beattie joined Sheffield United on loan from West Bromwich Albion in February 2009, making 16 appearances and scoring once.
He featured in all three of United's play-off matches that season, including the Championship play-off final at Wembley, before returning to West Brom at the end of his loan.
Later that summer, Swansea moved to bring Beattie to the Liberty Stadium, signing him as a replacement for Jason Scotland. Beattie scored on his Swansea debut against Ipswich Town and quickly became an important attacking option.
He also found the net against his former club West Brom before producing one of his most memorable moments in a Swansea shirt later that season.
In December 2010, he scored the winning goal against Middlesbrough as Swansea completed a remarkable comeback from 3-1 down to win 4-3.
Beattie remained with Swansea until January 2012, when his contract was ended by mutual consent.
James Thomas
James Thomas is remembered fondly by Swansea supporters for one of the most important days in the club's history, while his career also included a spell with Sheffield United.
Thomas joined Swansea in May 2002 and quickly established himself as an important member of Brian Flynn's side.
His defining moment came on the final day of the 2002-03 season, when Swansea welcomed Hull City to the Vetch Field knowing they needed victory to preserve their Football League status.
Thomas produced a performance that has gone down in Swansea folklore, scoring a hat-trick in a dramatic 4-2 victory that ensured the Swans avoided relegation to the Football Conference.
It was one of the most significant matches in the club's history, and Thomas' contribution ensured his name became forever associated with one of Swansea's great survival stories.
Thomas had previously spent time on loan at Sheffield United during his Blackburn Rovers career, scoring the winning goal in a 3-2 comeback victory over Preston North End.
That meant his career would eventually take him to both clubs, although it was undoubtedly his exploits in a Swansea shirt that made the biggest mark.
Rhian Brewster
Rhian Brewster's connection with Swansea and Sheffield United came during two very different stages of his young career, with the striker making a major impact during his loan spell in South Wales.
Brewster joined Swansea on loan from Liverpool in January 2020, reuniting with Steve Cooper, who had previously managed him with England's Under-17s.
He made his Swansea debut in the South Wales derby against Cardiff City before opening his account for the club in a 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic.
After the Championship season resumed following its COVID-19 suspension, Brewster hit a rich vein of form, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough and finishing the campaign with 11 goals in 22 appearances.
His performances earned him a permanent move away from Liverpool, with Sheffield United signing him in October 2020.
Brewster spent the next four seasons with the Blades, battling injuries while continuing to search for the goalscoring form he had shown during his time in South Wales.
He left Sheffield United in 2025 and subsequently joined Derby County, providing another recent link between Swansea and the Blades.