GARY Rowett has revealed that Millwall beat a number of Championship clubs to the signature of defender Joe Bryan.
Bryan, 29, joined from Fulham on a free transfer this summer and got to know his new team-mates at their training camp in Alicante, Spain last week.
The Lions needed a left-sided defender after the departure of Scott Malone this summer. That left only Murray Wallace in that position.
Bryan has plenty of pedigree and experience. He started his career at Bristol City – who were one of the clubs that wanted to sign him this summer – and then had loan spells at Bath City and Plymouth Argyle before he joined the Cottagers for a reported £6million in the summer of 2018.
Bryan scored against Millwall in Fulham’s 3-1 win at The Den in the EFL cup that season.
He played the key role in helping Fulham to promotion to the Premier League when he scored two goals, both in extra-time, in the 2-1 win against Brentford in the 2020 Championship play-off final.
Bryan made sixteen Premier League appearances the following season, scoring against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Bryan spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Nice where he made nine appearances and scored once.
Rowett spoke to NewsAtDen about Bryan before the news broke of the passing of Lions owner John Berylson.
“First and foremost we were looking for a player to come in and give us that balance on that side of the pitch,” Rowett said.
“He’s the type of player who can play as a wing-back, he can play as a full-back, he can play as a wide midfielder on that side.
“He’s got good experience and he’s at an age where he wants to come in and get that feeling of playing regularly back.
“He’s a player that has experienced promotion in this division. He’s been around this division and the Premier League for a while now.
“We think he’ll be a really good addition. He’s got a lovely left foot, he’s got lots of quality and he’ll be a good attacking option down that side.
“We think he’ll be a really good fit for us. We beat a lot of clubs in the Championship to his signature so we’re really pleased with that.
“I think Joe can see the ambition of the club and how we want to move forward.”
Image: Millwall FC