Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed two first-team departures, with Olaf Kobacki returning to Poland and Svante Ingelsson completing a move to Stoke City.
Kobacki has left Hillsborough to join Wisła Płock, bringing an end to his time with the Owls two years after arriving from Arka Gdynia. The Polish forward came to Wednesday with a strong reputation after impressing in his homeland, but his spell in blue and white never quite caught fire.
The 24-year-old showed flashes of technical quality and direct running, but he was unable to turn promise into consistent end product during his time at Hillsborough. A return to Poland now gives him the opportunity to reset, play regular football, and rebuild the momentum that made him an exciting arrival in the first place.
The more eye-catching exit is Ingelsson, who has joined Stoke City for an undisclosed fee.
The Swedish midfielder arrived at Wednesday in the summer of 2024 and quickly became a player the fans warmed to. His energy, versatility, and willingness to cover ground made him a useful option across midfield, and he leaves as one of the more notable departures of the summer.
For Wednesday, the move raises obvious questions about the shape of the squad heading into the new campaign. Ingelsson was the type of player who could do a job in several roles, and losing that flexibility means the Owls will need to ensure the midfield is properly reinforced before the window closes.
There is at least a financial element to the deal, with Stoke paying an undisclosed fee. That may give Wednesday some room to manoeuvre, but the real test will be how effectively the club reinvests, particularly with a squad already going through significant change.
Kobacki’s departure feels like a move that suits all parties. Ingelsson’s exit, however, will likely sting a little more for many supporters. He was not just a squad name moving on; he was a player who had started to feel like part of the core group.
With both deals now confirmed, Wednesday’s summer rebuild continues to gather pace. The departures free up space, potentially wages, and in Ingelsson’s case bring in a fee — but they also increase the pressure on the club to get the next additions right.
The message is clear enough: this is not just a trimming exercise. The Owls are reshaping the squad, and the next few moves will tell us far more about the direction of travel.