Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood has completed a permanent move to the club after spending the first half of the season on loan from Brighton. 

The Northern Irishman has been instrumental at the base of the Blades' midfield in the club's rise up to third in the Championship table, scoring twice and assisting five more.

Chris Wilder is believed to have splashed out just under £2million on the 27-year-old who helped Fulham win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs last season.

Brighton signed Norwood from Reading in the summer of 2016  making 33 appearances in his first season to help the Seagulls to promotion.

Since then, however, he has made just four more appearances for his parent club and will no doubt be delighted to make his move to Bramall Lane permanent.

The Blades currently sit two points outside the automatic promotion spots and four points behind table-toppers Leeds United.

They welcome Barnet to the Lane for some FA Cup third round action this weekend before facing Queens Park Rangers in the league next week.

The verdict 

This is brilliant news for the Blades.

Along with Billy Sharp and Dean Henderson, Norwood has been one of the club's stand out players this season and Wilder will and should be absolutely delighted to see the deal completed.