Can Rhian Brewster rebuild himself at Sheffield United?

Rhian Brewster. A player that showed unfathomable and limitless potential in his youth career – winning the Under 17s World Cup as the top goalscorer, alongside winning the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool as a teenager.

However, after a big-money move to Sheffield United, Brewster’s career began to decline, with the goalscorer struggling to find confidence or the back of the net. But in the present day, the 24-year-old is beginning to get back into the headlines, and for positive reasons as he has had a solid season in the EFL Championship.

A Young Star For Club And Country

During his academy days, Brewster was a star – leaving Chelsea at the age of 15 to move to Liverpool after seeing a pathway into the first team at Anfield. Brewster was a consistent goal-getter at youth level, netting five goals in 11 Under 18 Premier League appearances, two goals in six UEFA Youth League matches, and finally scoring 13 goals, while assisting 10 in the Premier League 2 for Liverpool’s Under 18s. The Englishman’s playstyle looked tailor-made for the English top flight – pace, off-ball movement, composure, and finishing. The now 24-year-old was the ‘next big thing’ at Anfield’, following in the footsteps of Trent Alexander Arnold. Brewster was called up by Jurgen Klopp to the senior squad for the first time in 2016, scoring a hat-trick in a friendly against Accrington Stanley before being named on the bench in the Premier League against Crystal Palace. Brewster’s highest achievement at the Reds was a winner’s medal in the UEFA Champions League after Brewster remained an unused substitute in the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Alongside his youth career at Liverpool, Brewster was also an exciting talent for his country. Representing England at Under 16, Under 17, and 21s level, the striker heavily made a name for himself in 2017 – lighting up the FIFA Under 17 World Cup. Brewster was England’s clinical finisher, scoring successive hat-tricks against the USA and Brazil in the quarter and semi-finals of the tournament, also scoring the opening goal as England defeated Spain 5-2 in the final. Then, the Liverpool man went on to win the Golden Boot and Bronze Ball awards for his impressive performances. Representing England at Under 21s level would score three goals in 18 appearances. However, in the present day, Brewster is still yet to represent England at senior level, and after a declining turn in his career, it appears that the 24-year-old may never earn his first cap.

Rhian Brewster has joined Sheffield United from Liverpool on a five-year contract for £23.5m. The Reds have a 15% sell-on clause and a buy-back option. @SheffieldUnited pic.twitter.com/JlOcRTDVSz

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) October 2, 2020

Move To Sheffield United

Following his fantastic academy career and a successful loan spell at Swansea in 2020, Brewster would be snapped up in a big-money move, joining a new-promoted side in Sheffield United for a reported £25m. Brewster would be the Blades’ marquee signing, with Wilder’s side pinning their hopes upon the Englishman supplying the goals to keep Sheffield United in the Premier League. Nevertheless, it would not work out for the Blades and Brewster, the Yorkshire club being relegated from the English top flight as Brewster went goalless in the league during his debut season at Bramall Lane.

Struggles would follow for Brewster - his second season being impacted by a large injury that would keep him out for a large spell – the striker making just 14 league appearances and scoring three goals. 2022/23 and 2023/24 would once again be more of the same for the former Liverpool man, Brewster made a combined 29 appearances over those two seasons, scoring just one goal and recording one assist. Joining the club for a large sum, and with a goal return of just five goals, the word ‘flop’ was bound to be floundered in the way of Brewster, but as Sheffield United were relegated back to the Championship in 2024 – the opportunity to play in England’s second tier at a more consistent rate, offered Brewster a less pressurised chance to rebuild himself.

Rebuilding Himself In 2024/25

After a horrendous 2023/24 season in the Premier League, Sheffield United themselves were forced to rebuild in the summer, the Blades selling and signing several young talents under returning manager Chris Wilder. Tyrese Campbell and Ben Brereton Diaz were added to the Blades attack, but a new and bigger role would approach for Brewster. Chris Wilder would move the English onto the right-hand side, operating as a right winger instead of his usual role of playing as a central striker. Goals would not come quickly for the former Liverpool man, but in December, Brewster netted his first goal in over two years at the Den to give Sheffield United all three points in a 1-0 victory over Millwall. The 24-year-old has gone on to make 29 appearances in the EFL Championship, scoring three times and assisting three times – Brewster scoring once and assisting once in his last two games as he begins to come into form.

Steel City Derby

The Steel City Derby. Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday is one of the biggest derbies in English football, and as they sit second in the Championship table with just eight games to go – the stakes were high for the Blades. For Brewster too it had become personal between himself and their arch nemeses. Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan had publicly called out Brewster and called him ‘honking’, while the Englishman responded in 2023, directing a chant at Sheffield United’s promotion celebrations towards Wednesday. Football works in weird ways, but for Brewster, it was the perfect moment – the Englishman scoring the game’s only goal and winning the derby 1-0 in front of Hillsborough’s famous Kop stand.

Sheffield United lead the Steel City derby thanks to Rhian Brewster ⚽️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/7ufTu0rLSp

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 16, 2025

What Next?

Once England's most exciting attacking talent. Lauded as an unbelievable signing at the time - seven goals and three assists in 106 games is simply not the Rhian Brewster Sheffield United thought that they were buying. A goal in the derby could amount to many times, but the striker will hope that it can catapult him back toward his old self through a newly found confidence. Fans are beginning to believe in Brewster again and with his contract expiry in the summer - a huge decision needs to be made at Brammal Lane in the summer. But injuries have been a constant in Brewster’s career, and if the striker is to rebuild his career, a consistent run in the team is needed. Whether it is at Sheffield United or even a team abroad, there is still a glimmer of hope and potential left for Rhian Brewster.