Rangers flop 'pushed' for Deadline Day transfer exit to Sheffield United as lure of working under Chris Wilder explained
Midfielder will link up with the EFL Championship’s most experienced managers at Bramall Lane after ending his unsuccessful Ibrox spell
Rangers flop Joe Rothwell has revealed he actively “pushed” to join Sheffield United on transfer deadline day after bringing a premature end his ill-fated Ibrox spell.
The English midfielder sealed a permanent move to Brammall Lane last night, just seven months after moving north of the border. Reunited with former Southampton boss Russell Martin after arriving from AFC Bournemouth last summer, the 31-year-old failed to fit the heights expected of him in Glasgow and he has exited the club only half a season into a three-year contract.
Rothwell had been on the EFL Championship side’s transfer radar for some time, having enjoyed lots of success at that level during previous spells at Blackburn Rovers between 2018 and 2022 as well as achieving promotion during loan stints with Southampton and Leeds United.
His first-team opportunities at Rangers dried up following’s Martin’s dismissal in October, with his successor Danny Röhl regularly leaving him out of matchday squads.
Rothwell made only three appearances under the ex-Sheffield Wednesday boss as he rapidly fell out favour, starting last month’s Scottish Cup win fourth round over SPFL League Two outfit Annan Athletic.
Joe Rothwell aims to get career back on track with Sheffield United
It had been widely expected that Rothwell would return down south in the January window and the Blades will prove him with the chance to get his career back on track after a hugely unsuccessful and frustrating few months.
Discussing how important it was to leave Rangers and the chance to work under one of the division’s most experienced managers in Chris Wilder, Rothwell told the club’s YouTube channel: “Massive, It was something, obviously, that I pushed for. I am thankful to the club that they wanted to do it and I am just really excited now to get out there and push this club back to where they want to be.
“I have obviously played against them quite a few times and played the manager’s teams quite a few times, so I would like to think I know what they are all about.
“Speaking with the manager he has told me how he sees things and how he wants to do things, and it was very aligned to how I want to do things as well. It was a massive attraction towards this club and, as I have said, I am really excited to get going now.”
Having played over 200 games in the Championship throughout his career to date, Rothwell brings valuable experience to Sheffield United and hopes he can help the club make up ground on the play-off spots.
With 17 games remaining, they currently sit 11 points adrift of those places with a game in hand to play over the majority of teams above them following a dismal start to the campaign.
Rothwell added: “I would like to think I know a thing or two about playing in this league and getting out of it. That is something that I hope to bring here; a bit of experience and knowhow of how to get games done and things like that.
“The main thing for me now is just getting back to playing and enjoying my football again.”