After much speculation, Millwall FC completed the signing of experienced playmaker Barry Bannan from Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday with five days left in the winter transfer window.

It has been well documented how much of a cult figure the 36-year-old Scot has become at Hillsborough, having been a consistent connection throughout a wild and traumatic near-11-year era in the Owls’ history since coming on a free transfer from Crystal Palace in 2015.

However, Bannan will now return to South London as Alex Neil bids to become the first Lions manager since 1990 to lead the club into a top-flight campaign, having been relegated from the old First Division after only two years at the pinnacle level of English football in their history.

It is a dramatic contrast to the situation that the former Wednesday captain, his teammates, head coach Henrik Pedersen, and the long-suffering fans had grown accustomed to at Hillsborough during the previous 12 months.

The Steel City club is bracing for a return to League One after three years away, as they currently sit on minus seven points after 28 games played, having been docked a total of 18 points throughout the campaign, initially for entering administration in late October before being found guilty of additional financial breaches on December 1st.

It is far from the conclusion of his 477-game term that Bannan had hoped for, with the Owls still in limbo over a prospective takeover by professional poker player James Bord and his group, who were designated Begbies Traynor’s preferred bidder on Christmas Eve.

However, it became clear throughout the weekend’s Championship action that an exit from S6 was imminent, with Bannan in tears as he was initially substituted in the 2-0 defeat at Bristol City, before being serenaded by the travelling Wednesdayites at Ashton Gate after the final whistle.

For the first time in over a decade, the 27-time Tartan Army international is set to take on a new challenge, with Millwall presently fifth in the second tier table, just seven points from the automatic promotion positions.

Despite his age, Championship fans are well aware of the technical quality still displayed by Bannan’s left foot, which was undoubtedly one of the factors that drew his compatriot, Neil, and the Lions’ director of football, Steve Gallen, to his services.

Millwall FC officials explain why Barry Bannan was signed from Sheffield Wednesday.

Although Wednesday’s troubles and limitations in terms of squad depth, quality, and transfer market have been well chronicled, Bannan remains as prominent as ever, both on and off the pitch.

In 28 Championship games this season, the Airdrie-born playmaker has three goals and three assists, including breathtaking strikes against Portsmouth and Norwich City.

He will now prepare for an 18-month stay at SE16, joining a midfield that already contains Casper De Norre, Billy Mitchell, Will Smallbone, and Massimo Luongo.

Gallen stated the primary reasons behind the transfer.”I’m very happy to welcome Barry to our football club,” he told the club’s website.

He’s a player that I, Alex [Neil], and football fans around the country have adored for years. For many years, he has been a standout performer for Sheffield Wednesday and among the best in the Championship.He is bright, acute, clever, and highly aware. Gallen praised the player’s versatility and ability to play multiple roles, which he and Alex discussed.He also offers big-game experience, which should benefit us between now and the finish of the season. I’m thrilled to welcome a very good football player to the team.”

Neil has also expressed his initial thoughts on the transfer, saying: “Over the last decade, Barry Bannan has been one of the most legendary players in the Championship in terms of what he has done for Sheffield Wednesday.

“He’s coming to our team, which is going to be a different experience for him,” she said.

“It will be a little different in terms of his function on our team and what we expect of him. But there’s no denying he’s a good player.

Barry Bannan’s signing adds an added layer of heat to Millwall’s next Championship match.

It will undoubtedly take some getting used to seeing Bannan in non-Wednesday shirt on matchdays, but it is evident that his technical talent and leadership will be critical in Millwall’s pursuit of success.

Ironically, the timing of his signing will give an added element of drama to the Lions’ impending match against Sheffield United at The Den, with Blades fans previously viewing the Scot as ‘public enemy number one’ on the pitch in multiple Steel City derbys.

It’s unclear how much of the match Bannan will play on Saturday, but he might be one of the season’s best signings, having appeared in almost 400 Championship games previously.