'Massive' - Joe Rothwell explains why he is grateful to Sheffield United after sealing deadline day transfer
Sheffield United brought the winter transfer window to a close by signing Joe Rothwell from Rangers.
Deadline day signing Joe Rothwell has admitted he “pushed” to join Sheffield United on a permanent deal after finalising his move from Rangers.
On United’s radar for quite some time, the Blades sealed a deadline day swoop for the former Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United midfielder on the final day of the winter window, signing him on an 18-month deal, keeping him at Bramall Lane until the end of the 2026/27 campaign.
Rothwell only moved to Rangers as recently as last summer, being reunited with former Southampton boss Russell Martin, but the latter’s departure in October meant opportunities soon dried up under Martin’s successor and former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Röhl.
Making a paltry three appearances under Röhl at Ibrox, Rothwell’s permanent switch to Bramall Lane will provide him with the chance to get his career back on track after a frustrating few months.
After initial confusion over whether he would join United either on loan or permanently, he was asked how important it was to join the Blades on a permanent deal.
“Massive,” Rothwell told the club’s YouTube channel. “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.”
Rothwell excited to make his mark
Playing over 200 games in the Championship in his career, Rothwell’s switch to S2 sees him link up with one of the division’s most vastly experienced managers in the form of Chris Wilder.
Excited to get started at Bramall Lane, the Manchester-born midfielder has admitted he and Wilder share a similar outlook on football.
He continued: “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.”
Bringing plenty of experience to the table, Rothwell will be key to United’s ambitions of making up ground on the play-off places.
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“I would like to think I know a thing or two about playing in this league and getting out of it,” he added. “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.”