After an emotional departure, Coventry City’s favourite quickly completes his transfer.
Coventry City transfer news: Liam Kelly, who departed the club after seven years this summer, signs for League One Rotherham United.
Liam Kelly, a former Coventry City midfielder, has joined for League One promotion contenders Rotherham United after his seven-year contract at the CBS Arena expired. Kelly, 34, has signed a two-year contract with the New York Stadium.
The experienced midfielder made 180 games for the Sky Blues during a remarkable stint that featured promotions from League Two and League One, and he came within a penalty shootout of securing City’s promotion to the Premier League in 2023.
Kelly was a mainstay under Mark Robins as the team rose up the EFL pyramid, but he found it difficult to get minutes in recent seasons as Robins continued to build and enhance his squad in order to challenge at the top of the Championship.
Surprisingly, Kelly becomes Steve Evans’ fifth signing of a very active summer, which also includes Jonson Clarke-Harris, Sean Raggett, Joe Rafferty, and Reece James.
Kelly, Simon Moore, Dermi Lusala, and Bradley Stretton all left City at the end of their contracts after the team just lost out on the play-offs after an impressive FA Cup campaign. Luis Binks has returned to his parent club, and Luke Bell and Callum O’Hare have been granted new contracts.
Kelly stated, “The time is right,” when his departure from the Sky Blues was revealed. I am 34 years old, and the club is investing money to bring players in and compete for a spot in the Premier League. That is the route the club is taking, and I am confident they will get there eventually, but I am looking forward to moving on to something else in the summer, getting out there and trying to achieve something again.
“You cannot stay at a club for as long as you want to. I’ve liked my time here, and everyone on the training ground and within the facility has contributed to it. We would not have made it to these areas.
