Semi Ajayi: the nowhere man who found a home at Rotherham United

He'd just headed home a stoppage-time winner at Queen's Park Rangers to end Rotherham United's 1,068-day wait for a Championship victory on the road.

But that wasn't the reason why Semi Ajayi was breaking into a big, bashful smile on the touchline at Loftus Road late on a Wednesday night last March as journalists quizzed him about his two-goal contribution in a famous 2-1 triumph.

I'd just asked if he liked the Millers fans' chant about him.

Last week, the centre-half-cum-midfielder departed after two and a half years to join West Bromwich Albion in a deal worth an initial £1.5 million and possibly rising to around £2.5m with add-ons.

Now 25, he arrived for free, untried and untested, at AESSEAL New York Stadium from Cardiff City in January 2017, five loan games at AFC Wimbledon and 13 loan outings at Crewe Alexandra the sum of his experience.

Boss Paul Warne had seen something in the 6ft 5in late developer and Ajayi grew up at Rotherham. He developed as a man, matured as a player.

In the early days, Warne spoke of the shy, deferential character who stood like a giant schoolboy with his hands behind his back whenever the manager talked to him.

That wasn't the Ajayi who left New York. He headed for the Hawthorns a player worth well into seven figures, a figure attracting multiple Championship bids, a Nigeria international, an admired competitor in the second tier.

For the Millers, he was brilliant at his best, cruising out into the channels with speed, poise and strength to snuff out attacks. When he went one on one with forwards in that territory, his territory, there was only one outcome. Semi's ball.

Boy, he was capable an almighty rick from time to time, though.

Ajayi was a massive figure, literally and figuratively, as Rotherham were promoted from League One in 2017/18. Pitched into midfield midway through last term, he responded with seven goals from a holding role, including six in an amazing five-game spell.

The Millers were slipping towards relegation but the player was named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for March and it was obvious there would be summer suitors prepared to save him from another year in the third tier.

He'd played in every single match, his final tally of eight goals made him joint-top scorer, he was about to enter the last year of his contract. If Rotherham were going to cash in, it had to be now.

Two of those goals had come in West London and that spring evening at QPR was just crazy, the most thrilling night of the entire campaign. Ajayi struck a sweet 20-yarder, QPR equalised and then came that header, right in front of the travelling supporters, in the very last second to banish almost three years of hurt.

Millers followers threw an away-end party. Will Vaulks simply threw himself around the press box.

The suspended midfielder was helping out with the club's online commentary and his tracksuited body came flying over reporters' heads in a hail of screams from the back row as Ajayi swooped to conquer.

“Yes,” said Semi. “I do hear the chant.”

“Yes, it does make me laugh.”

“No, I'm not going to sing it for you now.”

In all, he made 108 appearances for Rotherham, scoring 13 times and remaining free of injury for virtually all of his Millers career.

Not only was he fit, he was fast. Training-ground tests to monitor pure, top-line speed last season put Ryan Williams third, Matt Crooks second and Ajayi in front of everyone.

Rotherham's Roundwood HQ hums with hubbub and humour, but the former Arsenal youngster wasn't one of the loud ones, sitting unassumingly with a few of his teammates at lunch-times. Up close, he was a hard, lean, impressive specimen, his height seeming to go on forever.

In full flight, he was poetry in motion, but those same flowing feet could tie themselves in knots when the pressure was on in and around his own penalty area.

For every stunning Goal of the Season against Leeds United, there was a gaff at Peterborough United where a fluffed routine clearance gave Jack Marriott an unexpected birthday present.

Fans' favourite

His long legs looked the part in midfield, where any mistakes were less costly, and it's testimony to how well he adapted to unfamiliar surroundings that opinion is now divided on his most effective position.

Barnsley wanted him and made bids. The Baggies made bids and got him. A certain side in West Yorkshire were never contenders.

“Shouldn't you be in Leeds?” I teased when I parked up next to him at Roundwood following a storm of social-media speculation.

“It was funny,” he replied with another of his wider-than-wide grins. “I was reading on Twitter that I was having a medical when I was sat at home watching Love Island.”

It would turn out to be the last question I asked him while he was a Miller. Ajayi always gave a decent interview, hesitant for the first couple of minutes but speaking well and candidly once he felt more at ease.

Not one to volunteer for press duties, he had little choice but to speak to reporters more often last season as his contribution won games or salvaged points. The speculation about his future mounted in line with his goal tally.

He always felt he owed Rotherham for taking a chance on him when he was drifting at Cardiff, for helping him win international hours, for turning him into a performer who won't look out of place at a club the size of West Brom.

The last time he wore a Millers kit, at Bradford Park Avenue

His gratitude was touching and genuine. Over time, his debt was more than repaid and no-one in red and white begrudges him a life-changing move.

“Thank you to the staff, my teammates and the fans for accepting and embracing me in a way that allowed me to feel truly at home,” he tweeted after his departure. “I'll never forget the special bonds we created.”

His time was up a week last Wednesday when West Brom came calling and he was kept on the bench at Bradford Park Avenue, the only Millers player not to see action in a 5-1 friendly success that night.

Whenever I think of QPR, I think of Ajayi. And whenever I think of Ajayi, I think of QPR.

But I also think of the Leeds goal, of the poet in motion down the channels, of the great physical presence and even greater contribution of a player the Millers took from nowhere to a potential £2.5m price tag.

The Millers brought him in for nothing, improved him and sold him for a handsome profit, even allowing for a standard Cardiff sell-on clause.

As with Vaulks' similar move to the Bluebirds earlier in pre-season, Rotherham are getting their business model right, although maybe they could have held out for an even bigger fee on this occasion.

“I love Semi,” said Warne. “It's a great move for him. We had interest from a few clubs. West Brom offered the most money.

“Semi showed a desire to go there and so he should. He deserves to play in the Championship and he deserves the move for the two and a half years he has given us.”

Semi memories will linger, as will his chant, even though his name, which starts with a 'Sh' sound, was pronounced wrongly with a hard 'S' when fans were in full voice.

Sadly, it can't be repeated in a family media outlet.

But let's agree that the big fella aroused something in all of us.

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OVERWHELMED BY FANS' SUPPORT

THE reaction of Rotherham United fans to Semi Ajayi's departure has left the player feeling feeling "overwhelmed".

Ajayi departed AESSEAL New York Stadium last weekend to join West Bromwich Albion, bringing to an end his two-and-a-half-year stay in South Yorkshire.

The centre-half couldn't believe the response on social media as Rotherham followers queued up to send him their best wishes.

"Their support means a great deal," he said. "I was overwhelmed with the amount of messages I received."

The 25-year-old left on Saturday and returned to New York four days later for a pre-season friendly, giving him chance to bid a proper farewell.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind," he said. "The fixture was already on the cards so I knew I was coming back really soon.

"It is good that I have been able to come back and say 'bye' and say 'thanks' to the staff and the players and everyone who has helped me and my family.”

Ajayi, who made his international debut for Nigeria while with the Millers, was a key figure for Rotherham and supporters took him to their hearts.

Among the best moments of his time at New York were winning promotion from League One, scoring a late, late winner at Queens Park Rangers and heading the winning goal at Scunthorpe United to spark wild scenes in the Glanford Park away end.

"Getting promoted at Wembley was probably the biggest highlight," he said. "The away win at QPR was massive too. Then there was my first international call-up and winning the Championship Player of the Month ...

"There are so many things that happened in two and a half years. Scunthorpe away and scoring the winner right in front of our fans was amazing! There are a lot of memories that I will hold with me for life."