Kieran Sadlier ends his Rotherham United frustration by signing for Bolton Wanderers

The attacker has joined the Millers' League One rivals, Bolton Wanderers, who have been keen to sign him since the summer, for an undisclosed fee.

Rotherham already have a potential replacement lined up and hope to announce a loan arrival before Monday's close of the transfer window.

Sadlier had become increasingly disillusioned by his limited game-time under manager Paul Warne who reluctantly sanctioned the departure rather than keep an unhappy player at the third-placed club.

The boss said: "Had I kept him beyond the window and then still played him one game in six, would I have had the same Kieran? I don't think I would have.

"I'm not saying he would have downed tools, I just don't know if he'd have had the full level of motivation we need to get promoted. Sometimes you can see it in a player's eyes. 'Please, I just want to move on and play in a different system.'

"He's a really good footballer, a really technical player. Just because it doesn't work here for him doesn't mean he's not going to have an amazing career somewhere else."

Sadlier, whose contract was due to expire at the end of this campaign, joined Rotherham in August 2020 after leaving derby rivals Doncaster Rovers but made only ten starts and 17 substitute appearances in the league in his 17 months at New York.

He had been a regular visitor to his manager's office this season to stress how desperate he was feature more regularly.

"It's just about the game-time," Warne said. "He's at an age where he needs to play. His attitude has been spot on. He's always been patient.

"He was always aware of Bolton's interest in him. It was something he wanted to do, it wasn't something I wanted to do.

"The longer the season went on and the less game-time he got, the more frustrated he became. I don't want a hostage here."

Sadlier, who has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal at the UniBol Stadium, regards himself as a winger or a 'number 10' and suffered when the Millers adopted a 3-5-3 formation.

"He didn't want to play as a wing-back for me," said Warne. "He made that clear. I didn't sign him as a wing-back but since I signed him we've changed system. 

"I have no issue with him. I just couldn't give him the game-time he wanted. The move seemed to suit all parties."

Meanwhile, striker Georgie Kelly, who scored 26 goals for Bohemians in the recent League of Ireland season, is close to joining Rotherham.

The Millers have fought off competition from League One Plymouth Argyle and League Two Bradford City to land the 25-year-old free agent.