Image of Danny Ings looking frustrated for West Ham
(Credit: Imago)
James Barker
Tue 14 April 2026 19:10, UK
West Ham United won’t have any regrets over releasing Danny Ings last summer, as the striker has struggled with Sheffield United this season.
The 33-year-old striker joined West Ham in January 2023, having previously enjoyed a solid 18-month spell with Aston Villa.
Entering the twilight years of his career, the former England international was brought to the London Stadium to help beef up the Hammers’ centre-forward options and provide competition for Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca.
However, Ings was never able to truly push his comrades for playing time as a Hammer, as whilst he didn’t really suffer with the injury problems that had littered his career prior, he just wasn’t able to produce when called upon.
As a result, after the end of the 2024-25 season, West Ham let Ings seek pastures new, which he soon found with a free transfer to Sheffield United.
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How has Danny Ings fared with Sheffield United?
Wrexham among others were linked with Ings, as numerous Championship sides saw the potential to bag a bargain deal for an experienced and once-deadly striker.
However, it was Sheffield United who won his services, penning a one-year deal with the option of an extension at Bramall Lane.
Ings’ 25-26 Championship stats Result
Minutes per game 28
Goals 2
Big chances missed 6
Pass accuracy 67%
Shots on target per game 0.2
Ground duels won 36%
Per Sofascore
A low-risk, high-reward deal for the Blades, they decided to bank on Ings being able to stay fit and dip into his experience to score a healthy number of goals at second tier level this term.
And in fairness to him, he has held up the former end of that bargain, having played 21 times for them in all competitions this season, staying fit and available for the majority of the campaign.
Unfortunately, however, he’s not delivered the goods in front of goal, with just two to his name from 20 league outings.
As per Sofascore, Ings has averaged 0.1 goals per game, missed six big chances, registered a goal conversion of 13 per cent and has taken just 9.3 touches per 90 in the Championship in 2025-26.
He’s also created only two big chances, has a passing accuracy of 67 per cent, plays 0.2 key passes per game and wins a mere 0.2 tackles per game too, with a 39 per cent duel win ratio.
Ings wouldn’t have been West Ham option in the Championship
With West Ham still very much in with a chance of being relegated from the Premier League this season, there may be some supporters wondering whether still having Ings on the books would’ve been shrewd for the second tier.
However, if that is to be the Hammers’ destiny for 2026-27, then fans can rest easy knowing that Ings’ numbers with Sheffield United this season strongly suggest he wouldn’t have been a viable option for them anyway.
Of course, there will be a huge expectation for West Ham to come straight back up next season if they go down, but Ings’ days of being able to spearhead a side to promotion appear to be well past him now.
So, despite West Ham not enjoying the greatest of success with their current strike options this term, letting Ings leave isn’t a decision that will be costing any Hammers decision-makers sleep.