Sodje, 20, had spent the last two years with the Minstermen, playing on a non-contract basis, and was offered a permanent deal this summer.

It emerged last night, however, that Sodje had landed a dream move to the Championship, signing a one-year deal with the Tykes on a 'free transfer'.

Non-league York will be asking the Football Association to examine the deal as they feel entitled to compensation under the terms of the Bosman ruling.

"We have assisted Onome on a personal basis to further his development as a footballer in the UK since his arrival at York City two years ago, " said director Sophie McGill.

"We offered him a contract for the forthcoming season and we are disappointed that he has not communicated with the manager or the chairman, not returned any calls, or even had the courtesy to inform York City that he intended to join another club, " she added.

Barnsley general manager Don Rowing insists that Barnsley will have nothing to pay to their Yorkshire neighbours and Sodje – who is the nephew of footballing brothers Akpo, Efe and Sam – is currently regarded as 'one for the future' by Barnsley manager Simon Davey.

He was released as a youngster by Charlton Athletic and played for Gravesend and Northfleet prior to moving to York where he has scored 22 goals in nearly 90 appearances.

"Onome is a player we are looking forward to working with here at Oakwell, " said Davey. "He is lightning quick, with an eye for goal and a lot of potential and is someone we feel can improve and develop."

Barnsley midfielder Anderson De Silva, meanwhile, is wanted by Bristol City with the Tykes chasing Scottish international Charlie Adam as a replacement.

The Tykes have already rejected one six-figure bid for the Brazilian but Davey says Bristol are acting like a 'dog with a bone' in pursuit of their target.

Anderson, 26, is a cousin of Bristol goalkeeper Adriana Basso and his existing contract at Oakwell expires next summer.

Adam is surplus to requirements at Scottish champions Rangers having spent the final three months of last season on loan at Blackpool.

Both Barnsley and Reading have joined Blackpool in the chase for the 23-year-old.

Davey, meanwhile, has stressed that he is not looking to sell winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce – whose form attracted a £1m bid from Reading in the New Year transfer window.

"Jamal signed a new three-year deal last season and we value him highly, " said Davey. "There have been no fresh offers or enquiries for him this summer and we hope that remains the case because he is an integral part of what we are doing."

Having sold German goalkeeper Heinz Muller to FSV Mainz 05 for £600,000, Davey will need a new goalkeeper to provide cover for Luke Steele.

He is still in the market for another striker and, as previously reported, has lodged an interest in transfer-listed Leeds United star Jermaine Beckford.

Of the players who finished last season on loan at Oakwell, only Liverpool winger Adam Hammill is still a target.

Davey is no longer interested in Coventry City striker Michael Mifsud while Iranian midfielder Andranik Teymourian has gone back to Fulham with a view to getting back in the side.

Defender Rob Kozluk, meanwhile, is the only out-of-contract player at Oakwell still to agree new terms although Davey is confident that matter will be resolved in the next two weeks.

Sheffield United are on course to sell more than 19,000 season tickets – despite the disappointment of losing in the Championship play-off final to Burnley.

Operations director Simon Argall says the club has already sold 18,741 tickets but this figure is likely to rise after the publication of the fixture lists tomorrow.

Former Hull City striker Dean Windass has been offered a player-coaching role at Port Vale.

Manager Micky Adams is hoping to snatch Windass from under the noses of Darlington who want the 40-year-old to assist new manager Colin Todd but are unable to confirm new appointments until they exit administration.

Doncaster-born striker Michael Rankine has joined York City in a £10,000 deal from Rushden and Diamonds. Striker Craig Farrell is moving to Rushden as part of the package.