Millwall FC landed Newcastle United transfer gold | OneFootball

Shane Ferguson's arrival in 2015 proved a transfer masterstroke for Millwall

Millwall have Newcastle United to thank for the years of service they received from January 2016 signing Shane Ferguson.

The Northern Irishman initially joined the Lions on loan in the 2015 summer transfer window, and he is now celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his permanent switch from St. James’ Park.

He arrived following the club’s relegation to League One, and was brought in to help their pursuit of promotion straight back to the Championship.

A promising first half of the season led to his permanent switch on 26 January 2016, and he went on to contribute a total of three goals and seven assists in that first full year with the club.

Millwall earned a play-off place as a result, but were unable to gain a place back in the second tier after they suffered a 3-1 loss to Barnsley at Wembley Stadium in the play-off final.

However, that was just the beginning for Ferguson’s time with the London outfit, as he enjoyed another fruitful five seasons after that initial disappointment of missing out on promotion under Neil Harris.

Shane Ferguson proved his worth at Millwall

Ferguson cemented himself as an important part of the Millwall squad in the following campaign, playing 40 times as the team earned another play-off place.

He contributed two goals and three assists, with Harris’ side going one step further than in 2016 by winning the play-off final after the Lions finished sixth in the regular term.

While the wide man didn’t score in any of the three post-season games, he played on each occasion, as Millwall earned results against Scunthorpe United and Bradford City.

Ferguson’s game time in the Championship did take an initial dip in the 2017/18 campaign, as he was relegated to just 24 league appearances, and just nine starts, and he failed to register a single goal or assist.

But the London outfit’s impressive campaign saw the team finish a highly eighth place in their first year back in the second division.

A more difficult second year at that level led to a 21st place finish, but Ferguson’s attacking contributions proved important.

He provided an assist in a comeback win over Wigan Athletic in October 2018, as well as goals in comeback victories against Aston Villa and Ipswich Town, along with an assist in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

These all proved crucial moments in a tough campaign, with the team avoiding relegation by just four points.

Millwall parted ways with Shane Ferguson at the right time

Ferguson made just 42 appearances in the league across the next two seasons at Millwall, and he didn’t score a single goal in that time.

His 13 games in the 2020/21 season signalled the end of his time at the Den, as he walked away from the club at the end of that term after the team finished 11th in the table.

The London outfit released the player following the expiration of his contract, and this proved the right time to part ways with the wide man.

The now 34-year-old made the switch to Rotherham United, where he helped the team gain promotion from League One.

While he performed well for the Millers in the Championship in 2022/23, contributing three goals and five assists from 31 appearances back in the second tier, Millwall finished eighth.

Ferguson showed he could still perform in the second division, but not to the standard needed by Gary Rowett’s squad.