Millwall have won the race for free agent Joe Bryan as Championship transfer business starts to creep up a gear.

Left-back Bryan, aged 29, had been wanted by clubs including his old side Bristol City as he leaves Fulham, having spent last season on loan at Nice. He had also been linked with a move to the MLS and Gary Rowett claims that ‘virtually every club in the division’ was interested in getting him on board.

But the defender has opted to stay in London and a two-year deal at Millwall has been confirmed this afternoon. and he will start training with his new teammates tomorrow.

Rowett said: “He’s a great signing for us because he hasn’t had the last 12-18 months that he wanted. He has been at a very, very good club and then he’s had a loan that hasn’t worked out for different reasons – quite a few who joined (Nice) in that period didn’t play as much as they wanted.

“He’s hungry. He wants to come somewhere he has the chance to play games and a chance to make a difference. He wants to get that feeling back of being important in a team. I think he will be.

“He has got good quality and good athleticism. He can play left-back, left wing-back and I’ve seen him play left midfield for Bristol. He is a good addition down that side and probably one we didn’t think we’d get, because I think virtually every club in the Championship was interested in Joe.”

Birmingham City have struck a permanent deal with Derby for Krystian Bielik, who spent last season on loan at St Andrew’s. He joins as Birmingham started to put their own stamp on training facilities inherited from Wasps.

“I can see that everyone hopes for something more,” said Bielik. “The new training ground, the new football pitches, the stadium will be repaired, there will be more fans coming in. It will be something special and something new I think. I hope we can achieve special things this season, I really believe in this.”

Plymouth Argyle have brought in wing-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden on loan from Aston Villa.

The 20-year-old caught the eye on loan at Swindon and MK Dons in League One in 2021/22 but had a difficult year with Huddersfield Town in 22/23.

“I’m very pleased that Kaine has agreed to join us for the season,” said boss Steven Schumacher. “He has excellent pedigree, and great experience for his young age, including in the Championship. He will give us energy and versatility – I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Bristol City have been braced for bids for midfielder Alex Scott but, as it stands, no club has put in a bid.

Nigel Pearson told BristolLive: “I expect him to be here, and he’ll be here. That’s how I approach the situation. When you’ve got players who are potentially on clubs’ wishlists, I think that’s a very positive thing for us because we’ve got good players and he won’t be the only one. We’ve got a number of players who I think would be attractive to many clubs.

“Them being available, we’re not in a hurry to sell anybody, that’s the bottom line. I think there is always going to be speculation about somebody with his amount of talent, and we know a number of Premier League clubs have been monitoring him, so what?

“No one has yet put a bid in, and in all honesty, if they do, I’m a football manager, that’s up to the powers that be here to make that decision as to whether it’s an acceptable deal or not. Even then I think our owners are very keen for us to try and keep our best players because if we have a successful season and get promoted we’ve got a much better chance of keeping our best players.

“You can’t ever rule anything in or out, and I don’t wake up every day thinking about things like that. For me, all I need to know is when something happens, apart from that, he’s our player, he’s here, and I’m looking forward to him playing for us again this season, simple as that.”

Coventry are preparing to say farewell to star striker Viktor Gyokeres, who is tipped to join Sporting Lisbon.

The Record says that “after almost a month of arm wrestling” between the two clubs, the last few hours have “brought decisive contours” for the 25-year-old to be a “reinforcement” for next season.

Southampton could lose defender Tino Livramento and have rejected a £15 million offer from Newcastle United. Norwich star player Max Aarons is being linked with West Ham.

Cardiff City have been ordered to pay the final instalments of Emiliano Sala’s transfer fee to FC Nantes.

The club who are in an ongoing legal dispute with Nantes over the transfer fee for the Argentinian striker who died in a plane crash in 2019 – have questioned why they have been made to pay the latest instalments before the police investigation has concluded, reports WalesOnline.

Cardiff were previously hit by a three-window transfer embargo after failing to pay the first instalment of the £15m fee they had initially agreed with Nantes for the Argentine forward. After failing in their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the ruling, they paid the first instalment in January, believed to be around £7m.

FIFA then lifted the embargo, although the club remain under restrictions imposed by the EFL, who placed the club under a three-window embargo of their own. However, after an appeal, the club have reduced the embargo to two windows, which means they are now able to pay fees for players again in the January transfer window.

New Swansea manager Michael Duff has made his first signing, bringing in Hearts striker Josh Ginnelly on a free transfer.

Sheffield Wednesday have made their first signing too, while they wait to appoint a manager. Reece James, who spent last season on loan at Wednesday, has joined from Blackpool for an undisclosed fee.

Daniel Farke, the former Norwich manager, is now favourite to be appointed at Leeds.

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