Millwall sign Connolly from Sunderland

Aaron Connolly scored one goal in 11 appearances for Sunderland after moving to the club from Hull City last summer

Millwall have signed forward Aaron Connolly from fellow Championship side Sunderland on a permanent deal.

Connolly becomes Alex Neil's first signing since taking over as head coach at The Den.

The 24-year-old has made 11 appearances for the Black Cats since moving to the club in the summer, scoring one goal.

Connolly, who has nine caps for Republic of Ireland, will replace Tom Bradshaw in the Lions squad.

Bradshaw, 32, completed a transfer to Oxford United on Thursday.

Connolly began his career at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he made 56 appearances and scored eight goals, before spending time at Luton Town, Middlesbrough and Venezia on loan.

He moved to Hull City on loan in January 2023 and signed permanently for the Tigers that summer.

In total, he played 36 times for the club, scoring 10 goals.

"Aaron's been a bit unlucky not to play a bit more at Sunderland this season, but that has given us an opportunity to get him in," Millwall's director of football Steve Gallen told the club's website.

"Still only 24, Aaron has a lot of experience for his age. He is at his best when running at defenders and we hope he gets plenty of opportunities to do that with us."

Millwall have not stated the length of Connolly's contract. He could make his debut against his former club Hull City on Saturday.

'Connolly needs run of games' - analysis

Adam Lanigan, BBC Sport England

Put simply, Aaron Connolly's time at Sunderland never really got going.

He arrived late after a difficult summer dealing with personal issues which he bravely spoke about shortly after moving to Wearside.

But by that time, Frenchman Wilson Isidor was finding his stride as the Black Cats' main man up front in boss Regis Le Bris' favoured 4-3-3 formation.

Connolly needed a run of games to find his rhythm, but that never came.

He scored his only goal in the 1-1 draw at Millwall in one of only two starts, but he did not even come off the bench in Sunderland's next game. That was proof of where he sat in the pecking order.

The move to The Den is probably best for all parties because, as Connolly showed last season at Hull, there is a very talented Championship player waiting to come out.