Exclusive: Sheffield United Keen to Sign Crystal Palace Defender Rob Holding on Permanent Deal

Sheffield United are hungry to land Crystal Palace loan defender Rob Holding on a permanent deal, SportsBoom sources can reveal.

With a memorable Premier League return looking good, the ambitious Blades might just be able to get their man, especially with the promise of top-flight football on the horizon.

Eagles’ centre-back Holding joined the promotion-chasing South Yorkshire outfit at the start of last month after an injury to regular starter Harry Souttar.

He joined midfielder Jesurun Rak-Sakyi at the club, also on loan from the Eagles.

The former Arsenal ace, twice an FA Cup winner and three-time FA Community Shield winner, has made four brief appearances for the Blades since his arrival from Selhurst Park.

Chris Wilder’s on-song side have won all of them, against Portsmouth, Luton, QPR and Preston to leave themselves sitting pretty, joint top with promotion rivals Leeds United.

Despite strong competition from club captain Jack Robinson and fan favourite Anel Ahmedhodžić, the former Arsenal star has yet to make a league start for the club. 

His impact on the training ground has left a lasting impression on the manager, who values his experience highly. 

Wilder believes the veteran defender’s leadership and knowledge will be crucial, particularly if the Blades secure a return to the Premier League.

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The former England Under-21 international played seven seasons for Arsenal in the Premier League from 2016-2023, but he was never guaranteed a starting role.

He played 30 times during the 2020-21 campaign – his most in a Premier League season - under manager, Mikel Arteta. 

However, he the 29-year-old struggled to cement a regular starting role in both Arsene Wenger and Arteta’s sides respectively during a stop-start stay at the Emirates Stadium.

Having started his career at Bolton Wanderers – where he once won the Player of the Year award - and then went on loan to Bury, Holding got his big break with a reported £2million move to Arsenal in 2016.

But he left North London for the Eagles on a three-year deal to get regular football, only to not even start a game despite a high-profile £4million transfer.

Eagles boss Oliver Glasner revealed in October 2024 that he and the player had a falling out – and Holding has been frozen out of the squad ever since.

His move to Sheffield United was the break he was looking for having been starved of first-team football.

And with plenty of Premier League, Champions League and Europa League experience under his belt, Wilder is to make Holding a permanent addition, according to sources close to SportsBoom.