Sheffield United transfer news: Blades complete signing of goalkeeper

The 24-year-old was pictured in the Bramall Lane stands on Tuesday watching the 4-2 League Cup win over Wrexham after the Blades were finally able to agree a fee with the Pilgrims.

They have been looking for a new goalkeeper since the Bosman desparture of Wes Foderingham for West Ham United in the summer, but it needed the £15m sale of Will Osula to Newcastle United to free up the funds to end the stand-off.

With owner Abdullah bin Mosaad Al Saud hopeful of selling the club to an American consortium this summer, cash for new players has been scarce after relegation from the Premier League. Although the number of players departing this summer has been in double figures, only Osula and Jayden Bogle have gone for transfer fees, although they did receive compensation when home-grown striker Daniel Jebbison left for Bournemouth at the end of his contract.

Cooper made his debut for Plymouth as an 18-year-old, and would play a further 160 times for them.

Most of the Blades' signings this summer have had good options elsewhere, but the calibre of arrivals have backed up the claims Chris Wilder has been making all year that despite a difficult 2023-24, the famous old club he manages remain a big lure.

"The manager couldn't speak highly enough of the club, the fanbase, the ambition, the squad - it was all very attractive for me to make a decision to come here," said Cooper. "This is a huge opportunity in front of me, I have had a lot of great memories at Argyle but when an opportunity like Shefield United presents itself, it is almost impossible to say no."

Cooper joins Harrison Burrows, Kieffer Moore, Callum O'Hare, Harry Souttar, Alfie Gilchrist, Jamie Shackleton, Tyrese Campbell and Sam McCallum as new faces at Bramall Lane this summer.

"Overall, we're pleased with the business we have done so far, it was important that we went into this season with a fresh, ambitious attitude, helping us create a competitive environment and we think Michael's arrival again shows we're adding quality to what is now a strong looking unit," said Wilder.

Cooper, who sat out Plymouth's opening game of the season at Sheffield Wednesday because of the uncertainty, will almost certainly be the Blades' first-choice goalkeeper as soon as he is considered ready to start.

Adam Davies and Ivo Grbic have been in goal for the first two games of the campaign, both won.