£0 Fulham transfer will always remain Millwall gold standard for bargain buys | OneFootball

Millwall struck gold with the free transfer of Shaun Hutchinson from Fulham.

Millwall hit the jackpot with their £0 signing from Fulham, who went on to make over 250 appearances for the Lions.

Shaun Hutchinson joined Millwall in 2016 from Fulham on a free transfer, which went onto be one of the Lions' most impactful transfers in their recent history.

In what was a very risk-free piece of business due to being released by Cottagers, the well-known defender - who commonly went by the name of 'Hutchy' - went on to become one of the club's most reliable players, as shown by his constant availability for selection.

It's a transfer that certainly goes down as one of, if not the most value-for-money signings for the Bermondsey-based outfit, with the defender delivering some iconic moments during his time at The Den.

The combative defender is notably remembered in his career for captaining Millwall, and helping his side win promotion to the Championship in his first season, where he made 19 league appearances, including three in the play-offs where they came out 1-0 victors against Bradford City at Wembley Stadium.

Hutchinson made 268 appearances for the Lions before leaving the club in the summer of 2025 upon the expiry of his contract.

Despite being well known for his defensive duties, 'Hutchy' was also a threat at the other end of the pitch with his aerial abilities.

The defender scored 14 goals during his nine seasons at The Den, and also provided seven assists in that time.

Shaun Hutchinson became a cult hero among Millwall fans

The name Shaun Hutchinson will always live long in the memory of Millwall fans for his contributions to the club for just shy of a decade.

His defensive solidity led him to become a stalwart for Millwall over that time, but it could be argued his best moment came in his debut season on the final day.

Hutchinson scored a crucial winning goal in a 4-3 thriller against Bristol Rovers. His 85th-minute header secured Millwall’s place in the play-offs, which paved the way for their promotion back to the Championship, which became a turning point in the club's recent history.

After a quality first season in a Millwall shirt, very few could've predicted the everlasting impact that he would go onto have for the Lions.

However, he followed up that terrific 2016/17 campaign with a 46-game season in the Championship, and was a constant presence in every game, highlighting his importance to the club's ongoing success.

In the first season back in the second tier, he helped the team achieve an eighth-place finish, and exceed many people's expectations for Neil Harris' side, having narrowly missed out on the play-offs by just three points.

After that - and despite a relegation scare in the 2018/19 season - Hutchinson's Millwall became a Championship side very much on the fringes of the top six places, but always seemed to elude them.

Four eighth-placed finishes would follow between the defender kicking off his Lions career, to last season when he departed the Den, meaning reaching the heights of the Premier League is a feat that he could never quite achieve in his Millwall career.

However, the experienced defender, throughout his time with the Lions, established himself as a proven Championship centre-half who was a threat in both boxes, gave his all for the badge, and most importantly was a true leader.

Shaun Hutchinson will forever be remembered for his leadership qualities at Millwall

For Hutchinson, it could be said that his Millwall career came to a sad and sorry end, with game time coming at a premium in his final couple of years at The Den.

Injuries in his early thirties kept him sidelined for lengthy periods, meaning that the centre-back merely made 23 league appearances over the course of his final two seasons with the club.

His influence off the pitch, having been routinely named amongst the list of substitutes in the 2024/25 season, cannot be understated though.

Having a player like Hutchinson in and around the squad despite not being a regular starter is a huge bonus to any side, as his expertise and Championship know-how is a vital quality that can be passed down to the younger players in the group, such as the young French defender Tristan Crama, who seems to be Hutchinson's replacement.

Upon his departure from the Den, Millwall's Director of Football, Steve Gallen, sung the praises of the club veteran as he said: "On and off the pitch, Shaun has been a fantastic leader for many years and a great servant to Millwall.

"As we enter into our ninth consecutive Championship season, his goal against Bristol Rovers to secure the play-offs must always be remembered as one of the biggest in our history.

"We would all like to thank him for his outstanding contribution over the past nine years. Shaun will always be welcome at our football club."

Ultimately, Hutchinson's nine years for the Lions were special.