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Jagielka, Madine and Naughton among 11 former Sheffield United players set to be released
Former star Phil Jagielka and League One promotion hero Paul Coutts are among 11 ex-Sheffield United players set to be released from their clubs when their contracts expire next month.
Clubs up and down the country have been confirming their retained lists as focus turns to next season ahead of the transfer window opening.
And among those looking for new clubs are names that will bring back memories for Sheffield United fans.
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The biggest is former defender Phil Jagielka, who is to be released by Stoke City. Now aged 40, the central defender has had two stints at Bramall Lane after coming through the youth ranks and helping the club to promotion to the Premier League under Neil Warnock.
He returned for a second spell under Chris Wilder in 2019 and stayed for two years before being released upon relegation in 2021.
League One promotion hero Paul Coutts could also be on the move again after his time with Bristol Rovers may be coming to an end. He is free to leave but could stay on in a coaching role if he does not want to find a new club and continue playing.
His team-mate from that time Kieron Freeman is also being released by Portsmouth.
Kyle Naughton, another product of the successful youth academy, will be out of contract at Swansea.
Now 34, Naughton came through at the same time as Kyle Walker and was part of a double deal taking the pair to Tottenham in 2009.
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Former loan players Gary Madine and Kieran Dowell played a part in United’s promotion to the Premier League in 2019 but are being released by Blackpool and Norwich City respectively, while Matty Lowton is free to find a new club after his time at Burnley has come to an end.
Lowton, similar to Jagielka and Naughton, is another player United’s successful academy can lay claim to after breaking through in 2007 and spending five years at Bramall Lane before being sold to Aston Villa in 2012 for £3m.
Former junior players Joe Ironside (Cambridge) and Tyler Smith (Hull City) are being released, while another of the 2019 promotion heroes Richard Stearman is looking for a new club after being allowed to leave by Derby County.
Exeter City, meanwhile, are letting former loanee Jamal Blackman leave the League One club.
Sheffield United have submitted their retained list to the EFL and it will be made public shortly.
