# 2023–24 Rotherham United F.C. season

The 2023–24 season was the 99th season in the history of Rotherham United, and their second consecutive season in the Championship. The club participated in the Championship, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup.
The club were relegated from the Championship following a 1–0 loss to Plymouth Argyle at home on 5 April 2024.

## Current squad

    As of 7 March 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Viktor Johansson | GK | Stockholm | (1998-09-14) 14 September 1998 (age 26) | Leicester City | 2 September 2020 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 26 | Dillon Phillips | GK | Hornchurch | (1995-06-11) 11 June 1995 (age 29) | Cardiff City | 4 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 33 | Nathaniel Ford | GK | | (2004-07-08) 8 July 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 3 | Cohen Bramall | LB | Crewe | (1996-04-02) 2 April 1996 (age 28) | Lincoln City | 1 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 6 | Tyler Blackett | LB | Manchester | (1994-04-02) 2 April 1994 (age 30) | FC Cincinnati | 8 March 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 20 | Grant Hall | CB | Brighton | (1991-10-29) 29 October 1991 (age 32) | Midlesbrough | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 21 | Lee Peltier | RB | Toxteth | (1986-12-11) 11 December 1986 (age 37) | Middlesbrough | 28 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 23 | Sean Morrison | CB | Plymouth | (1991-01-08) 8 January 1991 (age 33) | Cardiff City | 10 January 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 24 | Cameron Humphreys | CB | Manchester | (1998-08-22) 22 August 1998 (age 26) | Zulte Waregem | 5 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 28 | Sebastian Revan | LB | West Bromwich | (2003-07-14) 14 July 2003 (age 21) | Aston Villa | 1 September 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 38 | Femi Seriki | RB | Manchester | (2002-04-28) 28 April 2002 (age 22) | Sheffield United | 1 February 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 40 | Peter Kioso | RB | Swords | (1999-08-15) 15 August 1999 (age 25) | Luton Town | 1 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 7 | Cafú | CM | Guimarães | (1993-02-26) 26 February 1993 (age 31) | Nottingham Forest | 8 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 8 | Sam Clucas | CM | Lincoln | (1990-09-25) 25 September 1990 (age 34) | Stoke City | 15 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 12 | Andy Rinomhota | CM | Leeds | (1997-04-21) 21 April 1997 (age 27) | Cardiff City | 1 February 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 16 | Jamie Lindsay | CM | Rutherglen | (1995-10-11) 11 October 1995 (age 28) | Ross County | 24 July 2019 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 17 | Shane Ferguson | LM | Derry | (1991-07-12) 12 July 1991 (age 33) | Millwall | 20 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 18 | Oliver Rathbone | CM | Blackburn | (1996-10-10) 10 October 1996 (age 27) | Rochdale | 4 August 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 22 | Hakeem Odoffin | DM | Barnet | (1998-04-13) 13 April 1998 (age 26) | Hamilton Academical | 3 August 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 27 | Christ Tiéhi | DM | Paris | (1998-06-16) 16 June 1998 (age 26) | Slovan Liberec | 18 August 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2026 |
| 41 | Josh Ayres | CM | | (2005-11-24) 24 November 2005 (age 18) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Tom Eaves | CF | Liverpool | (1992-01-14) 14 January 1992 (age 32) | Hull City | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 10 | Jordan Hugill | CF | Middlesbrough | (1992-06-04) 4 June 1992 (age 32) | Norwich City | 25 January 2023 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 11 | Andre Green | LW | Solihull | (1998-07-26) 26 July 1998 (age 26) | Slovan Bratislava | 2 August 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 14 | Charlie Wyke | CF | Middlesbrough | (1992-12-06) 6 December 1992 (age 31) | Wigan Athletic | 1 February 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 29 | Sam Nombe | CF | Croydon | (1998-10-22) 22 October 1998 (age 25) | Exeter City | 31 August 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2027 |
| 30 | Arvin Appiah | RW | Amsterdam | (2001-01-05) 5 January 2001 (age 23) | Almería | 25 August 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 5 | Jamie McCart | CB | Bellshill | (1997-06-20) 20 June 1997 (age 27) | St Johnstone | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 15 | Tolaji Bola | LB | Camden | (1999-01-04) 4 January 1999 (age 25) | Arsenal | 10 August 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 19 | Joshua Kayode | CF | Lagos | (2000-05-04) 4 May 2000 (age 24) | Academy | 1 July 2018 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 25 | Jake Hull | CB | Sheffield | (2001-10-22) 22 October 2001 (age 22) | Academy | 1 July 2020 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 34 | Curtis Durose | CM | | (2003-10-25) 25 October 2003 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 35 | Ciaran McGuckin | CF | Leeds | (2003-12-30) 30 December 2003 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 36 | Hamish Douglas | CM | | (2005-06-04) 4 June 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 22 December 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 37 | Joel Holvey | CF | | (2004-11-20) 20 November 2004 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |

## Squad statistics
### Player statistics

    As of 2 March 2024.
Players with zero appearances have been unused substitutes in one or more games.
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Total | Total | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Other | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | | Viktor Johansson | 36 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | | Dillon Phillips | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | | Cohen Bramall | 30 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | | Daniel Ayala | 5+2 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | DF | | Jamie McCart | 2+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | | Tyler Blackett | 10+2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | | Tolaji Bola | 1+3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | | Grant Hall | 2+4 | 1 | 2+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | | Lee Peltier | 16+4 | 2 | 16+3 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | | Sean Morrison | 22+6 | 2 | 19+6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | | Cameron Humphreys | 14+2 | 0 | 12+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | | Sebastian Revan | 19+7 | 0 | 18+7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 38 | DF | | Femi Seriki | 1+2 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | DF | | Peter Kioso | 7+1 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | | Cafú | 16+10 | 2 | 14+10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | | Sam Clucas | 17+8 | 1 | 16+8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | | Andre Green | 8+1 | 0 | 8+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | | Andy Rinomhota | 4+2 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | | Jamie Lindsay | 11+6 | 1 | 10+6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | | Shane Ferguson | 1+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | | Oliver Rathbone | 30+5 | 1 | 29+3 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | | Hakeem Odoffin | 27+3 | 4 | 25+3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | | Christ Tiéhi | 33+2 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | | Arvin Appiah | 6+16 | 0 | 5+15 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | | Ciaran McGuckin | 1+4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | | Hamish Douglas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | MF | | Josh Ayres | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | | Tom Eaves | 5+20 | 4 | 4+19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | | Jordan Hugill | 28+9 | 3 | 26+8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | | Charlie Wyke | 2+3 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | | Joshua Kayode | 1+4 | 1 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | | Sam Nombe | 17+14 | 2 | 17+13 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Players who left the club permanently during the season ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | | Dexter Lembikisa | 24+3 | 1 | 22+3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | | Ben Wiles | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | | Georgie Kelly | 2+17 | 1 | 1+17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | | Fred Onyedinma | 15+3 | 2 | 15+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |

### Goalscorers

    As of 2 March 2024.
| Place | Position | Number | Name | Total | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other |
| 1 | FW | 9 | Tom Eaves | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | MF | 22 | Hakeem Odoffin | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | FW | 10 | Jordan Hugill | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | 7 | Cafú | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | MF | 14 | Fred Onyedinma | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | DF | 21 | Lee Peltier | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | MF | 27 | Christ Tiéhi | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | FW | 29 | Sam Nombe | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | DF | 23 | Sean Morrison | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | DF | 2 | Dexter Lembikisa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | DF | 3 | Cohen Bramall | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | DF | 6 | Tyler Blackett | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | MF | 8 | Sam Clucas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | FW | 12 | Georgie Kelly | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | MF | 16 | Jamie Lindsay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | MF | 18 | Oliver Rathbone | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | DF | 20 | Grant Hall | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = | FW | 19 | Joshua Kayode | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Grant Hall | Middlesbrough | Free Transfer |
| 4 July 2023 | GK | Dillon Phillips | Cardiff City | Free Transfer |
| 8 July 2023 | CM | Cafú | Nottingham Forest | Free Transfer |
| 2 August 2023 | LW | Andre Green | Slovan Bratislava | Free Transfer |
| 18 August 2023 | DM | Christ Tiéhi | Slovan Liberec | Undisclosed |
| 31 August 2023 | CF | Sam Nombe | Exeter City | Undisclosed |
| 15 September 2023 | CM | Sam Clucas | Free agent | — |
| 27 October 2023 | CB | Daniel Ayala | Free agent | — |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Wes Harding | Millwall | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Robbie Hemfrey | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RW | Chiedozie Ogbene | Luton Town | Free Transfer |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Mackenzie Warne | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Josh Vickers | Derby County | Free Transfer |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Richard Wood | Doncaster Rovers | Released |
| 7 July 2023 | CF | Conor Washington | Derby County | Undisclosed |
| 25 August 2023 | CM | Ben Wiles | Huddersfield Town | Undisclosed |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Georgie Kelly | Carlisle United | Undisclosed |
| 7 March 2024 | CB | Daniel Ayala | Free agent | Mutual Consent |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Until |
| 27 July 2023 | LB | Dexter Lembikisa | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 10 January 2024 |
| 26 July 2023 | AM | Fred Onyedinma | Luton Town | 10 January 2024 |
| 25 August 2023 | RW | Arvin Appiah | Almería | End of Season |
| 1 September 2023 | LB | Sebastian Revan | Aston Villa | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | CM | Andy Rinomhota | Cardiff City | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | RB | Femi Seriki | Sheffield United | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Charlie Wyke | Wigan Athletic | End of Season |
* ↑ On 10 January, Lembikisa was recalled back to Wolves early from his season-long loan.
* ↑ On 10 January, Onyedinma returned back to Luton early from his season-long loan.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 18 July 2023 | RB | Peter Kioso | Peterborough United | 2 January 2024 |
| 2 August 2023 | CM | Curtis Durose | Scarborough Athletic | 1 February 2024 |
| 4 August 2023 | CB | Jake Hull | Buxton | End of season |
| 11 August 2023 | CF | Joel Holvey | Gainsborough Trinity | End of season |
| 31 August 2023 | CB | Jamie McCart | Barnsley | End of season |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Joshua Kayode | Carlisle United | End of season |
| 22 September 2023 | CM | Hamish Douglas | Gainsborough Trinity | End of season |
| 23 January 2024 | LB | Tolaji Bola | Burton Albion | End of season |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Ciaran McGuckin | Dundalk | End of season |
| 19 February 2024 | CM | Curtis Durose | Matlock Town | End of Season |
| 26 February 2024 | CF | Ed Mare | Sheppey United | 25 March 2024 |
* ↑ On 2 January, Kioso was recalled back early from his loan at Peterborough.
* ↑ On 4 January, Durose's loan at Scarborough was extended by a further month.
* ↑ On 5 January, Holvey's loan at Gainsborough was extended until the end of the season.
* ↑ On 5 January, Douglas' loan at Gainsborough was extended until the end of the season.

## Pre-season and friendlies

On 17 May, The Millers announched their first pre-season friendly, against Mansfield Town. Five days later, a second fixture was confirmed, against Parkgate. A third match was added against Lincoln City. In June, Premier League side Sheffield United was added to the pre-season schedule. On 6 June, a fifth and final pre-season fixture was announced, against Middlesbrough.
Also confirmed by the club was a week-long warm weather training camp in Murcia, Spain between 8 and 15 July.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Championship | 5 August 2023 | 4 May 2024 | Matchday 1 | 24th | 46 | 5 | 12 | 29 | 37 | 89 | −52 | 010.87 |
| FA Cup | 5 January 2024 | 5 January 2024 | Third round | Third round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 000.00 |
| EFL Cup | 8 August 2023 | 29 August 2023 | First round | Second round | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 000.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 49 | 5 | 13 | 31 | 39 | 97 | −58 | 010.20 |
Source: Soccerway

### Championship
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 60 | 74 | −14 | 53 | |
| 20 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 44 | 68 | −24 | 53 | |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 59 | 70 | −11 | 51 | |
| 22 | Birmingham City (R) | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 50 | 65 | −15 | 50 | Relegated to EFL League One |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town (R) | 46 | 9 | 18 | 19 | 48 | 77 | −29 | 45 | Relegated to EFL League One |
| 24 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | 5 | 12 | 29 | 37 | 89 | −52 | 27 | Relegated to EFL League One |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12$^1$ | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 29$^2$ | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | D | L | L | W | L | L | D | L | L | D | W | L | D | D | L | D | L | D | L | L | L | L | W | D | D | L | D | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | D | L | W | L | L | L | D | L | W |
| Position | 23 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
* $^1$ Matchday 12 (vs Ipswich Town) was postponed due to Storm Babet.
* $^2$ Matchday 29 (vs Ipswich Town) was postponed due opposition's FA Cup progression.

#### Matches

On 22 June, the Championship fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### FA Cup

As a Championship side, Rotherham entered the FA Cup in the third round and were drawn away to Fulham.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Rotherham were drawn at home to Morecambe in the first round and away to Stoke City in the second round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures