Kieran Sadlier is confident joining Wanderers will be worth the wait after landing his ideal move.
Sadlier was on the Whites’ radar last summer without a deal progressing for the Rotherham forward.
Sadlier therefore kicked off the season with the Millers and featured in their 2-0 win at Wanderers in front of over 20,000 fans at the University of Bolton Stadium in September.
The Whites revived their interest earlier this January and with a couple of days to go before the transfer window closes have landed another of their top targets on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
“It’s been a long time coming but, honestly, I’m so happy to be here,” said Sadlier, who ends an 18-month stay at the New York Stadium to become Wanderers’ sixth signing since the turn of the year.
“I came here at the start of the season and thought ‘what a great club it is’, with the stadium, the fans and the way they play.
“When they made it aware they wanted me there was no other place I wanted to come. That’s the truth so I’m really happy to be here.
“I knew the interest last summer and I felt at home when I came here. I said that I wanted to come because I wasn’t playing as much there (at Rotherham).
“I wanted to come here and play. I loved what the gaffer was doing, the way he was playing, which suits me, and is one of the main reasons I’ve come here.
“I’ve come to a club I feel like is an extremely big club and I just can’t wait to be involved in it.
“Hopefully I can hit the ground running and show what I can do. Playing in a team which is my style of football, I can’t wait to get going.”
Sadlier has played at League One level with Rotherham and Doncaster Rovers after kick-starting his career, which began as a professional at West Ham, with a prolific spell in Ireland with Sligo Rovers and Cork City.
The 27-year-old, a skilful operator with the ball who can play wide and also as an attacking midfield player, finished as Doncaster’s 12-goal top scorer in 2019/20 to earn a move into the Championship with Rotherham.
And the former Republic of Ireland U21 international has his sights on that level again after completing his move to Wanderers ahead of Saturday’s visit from joint League One leaders Sunderland.
“I think coming here will really suit me and I can show again what I did at Doncaster in this league,” Sadlier added.
“I had a good 18 months at Doncaster and really enjoyed it there and performed really well.
“I then had a little taste of the Championship last season, when I had an injury as well, and I think that was my taster and I really want to get back there with this club.
“I’m going to work really hard to do that.
“The club is on the up – getting promotion last year. You only have to look at the stadium and everything around it to know it’s got the potential to go back up again and hopefully we can do that.”
To watch Kieran’s first interview as a Wanderers’ player, click HERE