Millwall boss Neil Harris confirms deal for Celtic midfielder Kelly

Millwall head coach Neil Harris has confirmed that a deal has been agreed to sign Celtic midfielder Daniel Kelly on January 1.

The 18-year-old is out of contract at the end of December.

The Scottish giants have frozen Kelly out of their first-team picture since the start of pre-season due to the fact no agreement had been reached on a contract extension.

Harris, speaking after tonight’s 1-0 EFL Cup win at Portsmouth, said: “Dan has agreed to join the club. A deal has been agreed and he has signed. He officially joins us in January.

“He is a young player that falls into the mould of Romain, Aidomo and Alfie – that we think has got huge potential.

“The board want us to be that football club. The football club wants to evolve and sign younger players. Jimmy (Berylson) wants me to give younger players an opportunity, as I did last season and I’ve done in the past with Fred, Aiden and Ben Thompson. With Jed Wallace, George Saville and Jake Cooper.

“We want to be that football club that brings players in and gives them that opportunity. It is the only way for us as a football club to evolve and develop is by playing younger players and adding value to the squad.

“You will see more younger players come into the building but I, better than anybody, but also the board understands that if you’re going to have younger players then you need real Millwall experience as well. That is real leadership qualities and good Millwall men. We have got some really good Millwall men at the moment, so it’s a good time for us to add younger players.

“He (Kelly) is a very good player. When Dan first walks into the building he is not going to be someone that everyone should expect to go straight into the team.

“He is very young but everyone should take heart that they’ve seen Alfie Massey make his debut tonight and it was an outstanding performance. Dan is a box-to-box midfielder, probably an old-fashioned eight, who has great energy. I’d liken him to a young George Saville when he first came into the football club – breaks into the box and scores goals.

“He has got passion and real aggression to his play.”

Harris was asked about the latest state of play on incoming deals.

He said: “I thought it was important on Saturday I got the narrative to the fanbase that we’re not finished in the transfer market, we’re not in acceptance with where we’re at.

“I am demanding as a manager and everybody sees it in the football club.

“We are progressing and we’ve had huge support from Jimmy over the last few days with it. And there will be additions. I’d love to have players in as soon as possible but I also accept, and have been involved in a lot of conversations with the board over the last 72 hours, that these things take time.

“We know we need to add and we will.”