LONDON (CMC):

Jamaican international Di’Shon Bernard has said he has ambitious plans after signing a contract extension with English League Championship club Sheffield Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Jamaican joined the Owls – as Wednesday are known – last summer after leaving English Premier League giants Manchester United and signed a new three-year contract with the club on Friday.

Bernard has pledged his future to the club ahead of a first-team trip to Germany and Austria this week, when he will board a plane with his team-mates to prepare for the 2024-25 season.

The towering defender will be welcomed by no fewer than nine new signings on Wednesday, including his Jamaica team-mate Jamal Lowe, as well as his former Chelsea youth team-mate Nathaniel Chalobah and former Man United striker Charlie McNeill.

“I’ve seen the players come in and I’ve spoken to a few of the lads and it seems like the level has gone up so credit to the lads who have come in,” he said.

“It seems like they’ve really taken to it straight away. Obviously I know a few of the lads that have come in; Jamz, Nathaniel, Charlie. They’ve all really taken to it straight away and are doing well, so hopefully that can be a big plus for us next season.”

Bernard was a huge success for the Owls last season, playing 36 games in the blue and white in all competitions.

He said his relationship with Owls head coach Danny Röhl had a major influence on his decision to return for the 2024-25 season. He also said his ambition for the coming season was to take the club back to the Premier League.

“The gaffer and I have a really good relationship,” he said. “I know his talent and we both have the same goal, the same vision at the end of the tunnel, which is to get to the Premier League. Hopefully we can do that together with Sheffield Wednesday and get back there.”

Bernard returned to the club after serving international duty with the Reggae Boyz, as the Jamaican men’s national team is known, during the Concacaf qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifications and subsequently the Copa America, taking his total number of caps to 17.

Wednesday finished 20th on 53 points, just three points above the relegation zone in last season’s 24-team League Championship table.

They open the 2024-25 season on home soil against Plymouth Argyle, coached by former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, on Sunday 11 August.