But the arrival of Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli pushed him down the pecking order for 1996–97, and he was sold to Division One promotion chasers Sheffield United for £700,000 on 31 January 1997. In his final game for Middlesbrough Fjørtoft scored a crucial goal against Hednesford Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Boro would go on to reach the final after his departure.