Alex Neil didn't expect to be able to sign his old Stoke City favourite Will Smallbone for Millwall this summer but was able to get a deal over the line in the final hours of deadline day.
Smallbone was a first team fixture under Neil in 2022/23, having actually been signed by Michael O'Neill before the early-season change in the dug-out.
The athletic midfielder returned to help Southampton win promotion to the Premier League but has fallen down the pecking order as they have had a carousel of head coaches. Will Still eventually sanctioned an exit on Monday and Birmingham City were linked before Neil tempted the player to the Den.
It is the second former Stoke player signed by Neil this summer, following in the footsteps of Alfie Doughty, who joined from League One Luton Town.
Millwall director of football Steve Gallen said: "Will is a very good player - an experienced central midfielder with real quality. It's a position we've been looking at throughout the summer, exploring both permanent and loan options to find the right fit.
"The lads who've played in that area have done really well, but with a couple of injuries in midfield, we knew we needed to bring someone in to strengthen that area.
"Will is a current Republic of Ireland international who has played in both the Premier League and The Championship. He's strong, technically good, gets around the pitch and offers that box-to-box presence we were looking for. He ticks a lot of boxes.
"He's actually someone we didn't think would be available, but we stayed patient and were able to bring him in on deadline day. We're really pleased to have him with us."
Neil is yet to go on the record about the reunion but he was emphatic in his praise for Smallbone while he was Stoke boss.
He said back then: "I think Will Smallbone, in my opinion, is a completely underrated player. If you look what Will brings to the team, his legs are to die for, he's unbelievable in terms of the amount of ground he covers in a game. When he's not there is when you recognise it the most.
"Will, generally, in any training session or any game churns out the most distance compared to anyone on a regular basis. Also technically, I think his understanding of pressing and jumping and locking things on is excellent. I think he's got a really bright future ahead of him and, well, I play him all the time. He's got huge amounts to offer."
He added: "He's not going to be naturally creative number 10, nor somebody who plays in pockets and plays on the half-turn all the time. He's industrious, he runs beyond the ball.
"But what he will do is add more assists, he'll add more goals and he's a throwback to the midfield player who will hit the box late and land on things. He's more than capable of doing that and he will get more goals. There are no doubts in my mind about that."
How do you rate Smallbone? Click HERE to join the debate
While you're here, we have launched a new WhatsApp group to deliver the latest Stoke news directly to your phone. Click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in. If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking 'Exit Group', simple as that.
Every day, the StokeonTrentLive football desk strive to deliver news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Stoke City content.
Our dedicated reporter Pete Smith - who you can follow on X by clicking here - follows Stoke home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.
With so much going on, we send out a daily free Stoke City newsletter which you can sign up for - and means you'll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox. Sign up to the Potters newsletter here .