Sheffield Wednesday loan Reece Johnson to National League outfit Eastleigh as 'proven track record' cited
Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed a loan move to the National League for a young defender
Sheffield Wednesday have loaned young defender Reece Johnson to National League outfit Eastleigh after handing him a new contract.
The 20-year-old has put pen to paper on a new one-year deal at Hillsborough, with the Owls holding a 12-month extension option.
He was among the academy products thrown in the deep end last season and has been rewarded for the way in which he handled senior football across his 16 outings.
However, he will drop into the fifth tier of English football this season to continue his development.
Sheffield Wednesday confirm loan move for Reece Johnson
Wednesday’s sporting director Simon Wilson said: “Reece has contributed to our first team throughout the last six months and this will allow him to continue earning opportunities at senior level.
“The National League is a challenging environment for young players and Eastleigh have a proven track record of developing talent. We look forward to playing our part in supporting Reece’s progress throughout the season.”
Johnson added: “I’m excited to be here. It’s been a long time coming and I am excited to get started.”
Sheffield Wednesday’s youth
Wednesday will be nowhere near as reliant on inexperience this term having embarked on a signing spree.
Owls boss Henrik Pedersen has been given the senior quality his squad was badly in need of, with the aim being an immediate promotion back to the Championship.
The 2025/26 season was a turbulent one for the Owls, but it was the off-field chaos that allowed the likes of Johnson such huge opportunities.
The left-back helped Wednesday cause a major upset in the Carabao Cup against Leeds United and featured in 12 Championship games.
Wednesday have also loaned out highly-rated young goalkeeper Logan Stretch, who has linked up with National League North club Buxton for the duration of the upcoming campaign.