Union Saint-Gilloise defender Ross Sykes still hopes to earn a move to the Premier League after a shoulder injury ended his chances of leaving the Belgian club last summer.
Speaking to Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure in an interview published on 5 November, the 27-year-old addressed his plans for the future. According to coverage of the interview by VoetbalNieuws, Sykes had aimed to take the next step in his career over the summer, with a transfer to the Premier League as his main ambition.
Although the injury disrupted those plans, he has not given up on a move and hopes another opportunity could arise in the January 2027 transfer window or next summer.
Before looking ahead to a potential departure, Sykes wants to regain full fitness and return to the level he showed during the 2025/26 season. His injury occurred on 4 August during Union’s 3-3 draw with Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie.
The Belgian side subsequently confirmed that he had undergone surgery after dislocating the acromioclavicular joint in his shoulder and expected him to miss several months.
Coverage of his recent interview noted that his spell on the sidelines lasted around two months. Since recovering, Sykes has started working his way back into the team through brief appearances off the bench. He made his comeback against Cercle Brugge on 25 October and featured against Beveren six days later. Another late cameo followed on 5 November, when he came on in the 81st minute of Union’s 2-1 Europa League victory away at Celta Vigo.
Getting minutes on the pitch gives the defender an opportunity to rebuild his sharpness, though short substitute outings do not yet show that he is ready to return to the starting line-up on a regular basis. That step remains important for Sykes, who believes he needs to match last season’s performances before any move becomes realistic.
During the 2025/26 campaign, Sykes played 32 league matches in the Belgian Pro League and scored five goals. He has grown into an important part of the Union defence since joining from Accrington Stanley in 2022. Prior to his switch to Belgium, he came through Accrington’s youth system and made more than 130 first-team appearances for the English club.
Strong displays in Belgium had already brought Sykes to the attention of several clubs in England. Back in February, TEAMtalk reported that Burnley, Everton, Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Coventry City had sent scouts to watch him play. While that report provides background to the interest in his progress, it does not show that any of those sides made a bid, and there is no confirmed evidence of a formal offer or ongoing negotiations.
Any club considering an approach will also have to account for his contract situation. In October 2024, Union confirmed in an official announcement that Sykes had signed an extension running until 2027, which includes an option for a further season. The club did not disclose the conditions or deadline attached to that extra year, and its current status has not been confirmed publicly.
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Those contract terms could shape how Union respond if an enquiry arrives in the winter window. While Sykes’s comments point to an open possibility for the future rather than an imminent transfer, the Belgian club may have to weigh the value of keeping an experienced defender against a potential sale.
His recovery and form on the pitch are likely to influence any decision, and it will become clearer as the January window approaches whether an English club returns with concrete interest.
