Charlie McNeill has joined Crewe Alexandra on loan after falling behind the influx of new attacking talent this summer.

Although it was the 22-year-old's first full season of senior football, the Owls had to lean heavily on a player who came through the academies of Manchester City and United in 2025-26.

McNeill played in 44 league games last term, 23 of them from the start.

But with Harry Gray, Callum Slattery, Jordi Liongola, Louie Barry and Mason Burstow joining in the summer, it has been decided that it would be best for McNeill to continue his development elsewhere. He has therefore joined the League Two side until the end of the season.

McNeill was an unused substitute in Saturday's League Cup first-round win over Bolton Wanderers with goalscorer Jamal Lowe, Barry and most notably 17-year-old Will Grainger preferred from the bench.

“This is a loan that works well for all parties,” said Owls sporting director Simon Wilson. “Charlie is ready for more playing time and it will enable us to monitor him in this environment – and Crewe are acquiring a player with an elite goalscoring record in youth football, who is hungry for this opportunity.

“They have an excellent record of partnering with clubs on loan players and have been really consistent in recent years, performing at the top end of the league. It is a season-long loan, but we will all review the situation in January and take it from there.”

McNeill was a prolific goalscorer in the youth ranks, and found the net six times for the Owls, trebling his senior output after short loan spells at Newport County and Stevenage.

LOAN: Charlie McNeill (Image: Steve Ellis)

placeholder image — LOAN: Charlie McNeill (Image: Steve Ellis)

Despite that goalscoring pedigree, he is seen as physically and technically suited to a slightly deeper role, usually playing between the lines of midfield and attack for the Owls, and occasionally as a specialist midfielder.