Rotherham United are delighted to third arrival of this week in the form of midfielder Ollie Rathbone, who has completed the switch from Rochdale to AESSEAL New York Stadium for an undisclosed fee, subject to EFL and FA ratification.
The Blackburn-born midfielder has agreed a three-year deal with the Millers and arrives to bolster Paul Warne’s engine room options ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
The 24-year-old primarily operates in the middle of the park and has been commended for his ability to dictate play from deep but also his quality operating further forward as an attacking midfielder.
Despite being in the relative infancy of his professional career, Rathbone has ample experience of Sky Bet League One under his belt, having played over 150 matches in the third tier for Dale, including 40 appearances last term, in which he found the net three times.
Starting his career in the fabled Manchester United Academy, Rathbone played alongside the likes of current Red Devils stars Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay, and won the club’s Goal of the Month Award for a sensational 40-yard strike for the Under 18s against Derby County in 2015.
Rathbone - whose father played over 250 games for Blackburn Rovers as a full-back – has joined up with his new teammates at Roundwood ahead of Saturday’s season opener with Plymouth Argyle at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
It has been a good week for the Millers, who make Rathbone their third addition ahead of this Saturday's Sky Bet League One opener.