Sheffield United dealt fatal transfer blow as QPR confirm contract breakthrough

QPR defender Jimmy Dunne has signed a new contract at Loftus Road in what looks set to be a fatal transfer blow to Sheffield United.

The Blades, who submitted a bid for the 27-year-old in January, were expected to reignite interest in Dunne’s services having missed out on promotion to the Premier League. The defender had been out of contract at Loftus Road this summer and could have left as a free agent.

QPR had confirmed that they were in talks with the player over a new deal but no confirmation had followed since that update last month. Now, a breakthrough has been made.

QPR confirm contract breakthrough

A club statement on Wednesday read: “Jimmy Dunne has extended his stay with QPR after signing a new deal with the club on Tuesday afternoon.

“The 27-year-old defender joined four years ago from Burnley. His passion and commitment in the blue and white hoops have made him a firm favourite with R’s fans during that time, culminating in him being named MyGuava Supporters' Player of the Year for the 2024/25 campaign. Dunne – who also scooped the Ray Jones Players’ Player of the Year and Achilleus Security Junior Hoops Player of the Year awards last season – is thrilled to be continuing his journey in west London.”

Dunne has been a mainstay under Marti Cifuentes at QPR and is set to be a key player as the club transitions under an expected change of management. The Catalan head coach remains on gardening leave with Frenchman Julien Stephan expected to come in.

Jimmy Dunne confronts transfer speculation

Speaking about the speculation around his new deal, Dunne said: “It is difficult to play football alongside speculation like that. You just want to focus on football alone. But I think, ultimately, footballers need to do what's best for their career and their development. I'm well into my 20s now. I'm an experienced player at the club, but development and the right direction is still important to me. Ultimately, I continue to feel like QPR is the best place for me.

“I think it was key to take time away and think about it. And I did that. I tried to think about all the aspects that come into where a footballer should be. I want to continue to grow in confidence, continue to improve my leadership skills, to be happy – not underestimating that I feel loved here and I love the people here. All those things added up ultimately to the decision that I want to continue to play my football here.”

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder had been outspoken about the club’s interest in Dunne. Should Sheffield United have achieved promotion, it is not thought that they would have returned for the player, but they were beaten by Sunderland in the play-off final. The Blades manager is now expected to be dismissed from his position.

In January, Wilder admitted: “We made a bid for Jimmy and it got turned down. He wasn't our player and QPR have every right to do what they needed to do in that particular moment. For a player out of contract in the summer, we put a reasonably good bid in. We obviously like the player because if we didn't, we wouldn't have put a bid in. But QPR have every right to turn that down and they turned it down.”

In other news, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Leeds United compete as Championship club 'resigned' to transfer exit.