News of the deal comes as no surprise with Barker having already been named Sheffield United’s academy manager ahead of the 2023/2024 campaign. The midfielder will combine her new off-field role with her playing duties for the club.

Barker initially represented Sheffield United between 2018 and 2020 before joining Leicester City. The player returned to the South Yorkshire club on loan for a second spell last season. After overcoming an injury, Barker made 13 appearances for Sheffield United in the 2022/2023 Barclays Women’s Championship. She will now be looking forward to a third spell with The Blades after re-joining the club on a permanent basis.

After signing on with Sheffield United, Barker said “I’m buzzing. We finished last season really strong and in my mind, I had no other place I wanted to go, I wanted to stay here.

“Especially under Jonno (Morgan), I’ve played under him for quite a few years, to sign permanently was a dream come true really.”

Barker is Sheffield United manager Jonathan Morgan’s first signing of the summer transfer window. The Blades boss is expected to bring in several other new faces with the club transitioning to a full-time operating model.

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Foxes of Leicester talk Leicester City news, including: coach Willy Caballero, striker Kelechi Iheanacho, target Stephy Mavididi and wantaway Harvey Barnes.

On Sunday, Leicester City Football Club confirmed that former Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero will assume the Foxes assistant manager role. Or, as LCFC.com put it, Caballero has been ‘added to manager Enzo Maresca’s backroom team’ ready for the 2023/24 Championship season.

Meanwhile, there are a couple of pieces of hearsay to document. First of all, Leicester attacker Iheanacho is a wanted man; he’s another athlete who can consider himself EPL calibre, as I see it. Midlands club Nottingham Forest, who retained their status, are supposedly after the Nigerian. Lastly, the King Power outfit are in the market for Montpellier winger Stephy Mavididi. Read more on that story here.

Harvey Barnes chase not going away but it’ll be astonishing if he’s at Leicester City by August

In spite of reports to the contrary, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie claims that Barnes is not close to joining Newcastle United at the moment. The North East side and manager Eddie Howe wish to sign Leicester’s wingman, but a bid is yet to transpire. It had been said quite widely that the Fox was on the verge of becoming a Magpie.

Aston Villa, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur are all chasing the 25-year-old this summer, so speculation suggests. Nevertheless, nothing concrete has occurred. As an England international with much opportunity for caps in the future, Barnes is easily good enough to compete as a starter in the English top-flight.