Owls win chase as winger Antonio returns

The 21-year-old winger’s future has been in limbo all summer after ending last season on loan at Hillsborough, where he was an integral part of Dave Jones’s League One side which gatecrashed the automatic promotion places at the expense of city rivals United.

After making his debut against the Blades on February 26, Antonio and Wednesday embarked on a 14-match unbeaten run which was finally rewarded with runners-up spot behind champions Charlton Athletic.

Wednesday had been unsuccessful with two previous bids, the most recent believed to be in the region of £700,000, before reaching agreement with the Royals.

And last night Antonio signed a four-year contract at Hillsborough after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.

Antonio said: “I have been waiting patiently for this move all summer and I am so pleased it has gone through. Everything comes to those who wait.

“Winning promotion with Sheffield Wednesday last season was something I will never forget.

“Wednesday fans have been encouraging me all summer to sign and they have played a massive part in this move.

“I would like to say thank you to all of them and now I can focus on next season and helping Wednesday succeed in the Championship.”

Antonio – who scored five goals in 14 appearances for Jones’s side – was at Hillsborough on Saturday to watch the Owls draw 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion

He will have been impressed by another new winger who has arrived at Hillsborough over the summer, Slovenian international Nejc Pecnik.

The former Sparta Prague loannee – who joined on a free transfer after leaving Portugese side CD Nacional – opened the scoring against the Baggies with a 35-yard cross-cum-shot.

“I’ve scored many goals from distance in the past but there was a little luck involved in my first for Sheffield Wednesday but it’s my first goal for the club and I hope it won’t be the last,” said 26-year-old Pecnik.

“I did have some other offers but I like the English game and that’s where I wanted to come and I hope that with Sheffield Wednesday, we can get to the Premier League. I’ve watched a lot of English football and have played against the England national team twice for Slovenia – once in the Under-21 squad and once in the main squad.”