Former Hoop Aidomo links up with Millwall

Aidomo scores for Rovers against KF Teuta Durrës

CLONDALKIN native Aidomo Emakhu will be aiming to join Millwall’s first-team squad after the precocious teenager completed his move to English Championship side Shamrock Rovers, holders of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, last week.

Despite having a year left on his contract with the Hoops, Emakhu has joined Daniel Mandroiu and Andy Lyons in a move from the Tallaght club to cross-channel. While Mandroiu has already played nine games – and scored three goals – for English League One club Lincoln City after leaving Rovers mid-season, Emakhu and Lyons will have to wait until January 1 before signing for Millwall and Blackpool respectively can compete.

Emakhu has attracted interest from overseas in the past but chose to remain in Ireland to complete his education at Moyle Park College. He took his final exams at the beginning of the summer and has only focused exclusively on football in the last few months.

Interestingly, he has requested the number 22 shirt at Millwall in a clear nod to Clondalkin’s postcode. He will join a side currently sitting ninth in the championship standings with 32 points from 22 games this season.

A host of Irish players have played for 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 in Millwall’s squad, although Northern Ireland international George Saville is also in The Den’s books.

Aidomo Emakhu signed for Championship club Millwall last week after leaving Shamrock Rovers. Photo credit Twitter

The attacking Emakhu could have a difficult job trying to force his way into first-team tally mid-season – there’s also a chance he could be used on his arrival in Millwall Under-23s – but he’s had it shown plenty of quality since making his senior debut for Rovers in May 2021.

That year he made 12 appearances in the Premier Division for the Hoops and helped Stephen Bradley’s men successfully retain their top division title. He was used off the bench in all but two of those games and Bradley was again careful not to overwhelm Emakhu in 2022.

As well as a single home start against Sligo Rovers on 9 May, he amassed 21 substitute appearances on his way to winning a League Two winners’ medal. Barely three months later, however, he scored his second league goal in a 1-1 draw with Drogheda United and was included in the squad for 34 of the 36 games Rovers played over the top-flight campaign.

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, having featured in eight games in different 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 in south-east London.