Former Hoop Aidomo links up with Millwall
CLONDALKIN native Aidomo Emakhu will have his sights set on breaking into Millwall’s first-team squad after the precocious teenager completed his transfer to the English Championship outfit from SSE Airtricity League Premier Division holders Shamrock Rovers last week.
Despite having a year remaining on his contract with the Hoops, Emakhu joins Daniel Mandroiu and Andy Lyons in making a cross-channel move from the Tallaght club. While Mandroiu has already made nine appearances – and scored three goals – for English League One side Lincoln City after leaving Rovers mid-season, Emakhu and Lyons will have to wait until January 1st before they can line out for Millwall and Blackpool respectively.
Emakhu has attracted interest from overseas sides in the past, but opted to remain in Ireland to complete his education at Moyle Park College. He sat his Leaving Certificate examinations earlier this summer and it was only in the past few months that his sole concentration was on football.
Interestingly, he has requested the number 22 jersey at Millwall in a clear nod to Clondalkin’s postal code. He will be joining a side that currently lie ninth in the Championship table with 32 points from 22 games thus far this season.
A host of Irish players have plied their trades at the London club in the past, including former St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers footballer Joe Haverty. Danny McNamara is currently the only other Republic of Ireland player within the Millwall squad, though Northern Ireland international George Saville is also on the books at The Den.
Aidomo Emakhu signed for Championship side Millwall last week after leaving Shamrock Rovers. Photo credit Twitter
The attack-minded Emakhu might have a difficult job on his hands trying to force his way into the first-team reckoning midway through a campaign – there is also a possibility that he will be used in the Millwall U23s upon arrival – but he has shown plenty of quality since making his senior debut for Rovers in May 2021.
He went on to make 12 Premier Division appearances for the Hoops that year, helping Stephen Bradley’s men to successfully defend their top-flight title in the process. He was used off the bench in all bar two of these games and Bradley was once again careful not to overuse Emakhu in 2022.
In addition to a single start at home to Sligo Rovers on May 9, he amassed 21 substitute appearances on his way to picking up a second league winners’ medal. He did score his second league goal in a 1-1 draw with Drogheda United just under three months later, however, and was included in the squad for 34 of the 36 games that Rovers played over the course of the top-flight campaign.
Back in 2020, he played 11 times for Shamrock Rovers II in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. He also has an impressive record in Europe for the Hoops playing in eight games across a variety of competitions and scoring goals against KF Teuta, FC Shkupi and Ludogorets.
His departure will leave a void in the Rovers squad, but it will be fascinating to see how he settles into life in south-east London.
