League One transfer news as Huddersfield Town's rivals Rotherham United complete seventh signing

A number of signings have been announced by Huddersfield Town’s League One rivals over the past week as clubs continue to put together their squads for the new campaign.

The Terriers have yet to strengthen following their relegation from the Championship, while Town announced last month in their retained list that five players would be departing the club, with three loan players also returning to their parent clubs.

Sporting director Mark Cartwright has stated that there will be “an overhaul” at the club this summer, as the Terriers begin to prepare for their first campaign at League One level since 2012.

With Town’s divisional rivals completing business over the past week, we’ve taken a look at the clubs that have confirmed additions to their squads ahead of the new campaign.

(N.B. Transfers will become official on either the opening of the transfer window on June 14 or following expiry of existing contracts on July 1)

Blackpool

Jordan Rhodes – Huddersfield Town (free)

The Tangerines confirmed Rhodes as their first signing of the close season, with the striker making his loan stay permanent following his release from the Terriers.

Town opted to let the 34-year-old depart following a three-year second spell at the John Smith’s Stadium, with the final season spent on loan at the Seasiders, and Rhodes has now opted to extend his stay at Bloomfield Road by penning a one-year deal.

The striker netted 15 goals in the first half of last season for the Tangerines, but was unable to add to his tally in the second half of the campaign due to injuries. Rhodes leaves the Terriers having netted ten goals in the two seasons prior.

Rhodes had an extremely prolific first spell at Town between 2009 and 2012, where he netted 87 goals in 148 games before departing to join Blackburn Rovers. The forward went on to play for Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City before rejoining Town for a second stint in 2021.

Mansfield Town

Frazer Blake-Tracy – Swindon Town (free)

The Stags took their signings tally to three with the addition of Blake-Tracy from Swindon Town. The full-back has joined the newly-promoted outfit on a two-year contract, and follows Lee Gregory and Keanu Baccus in joining the club.

Blake-Tracy started out in non-league with Dereham Town, Lowestoft and King’s Lynn Town before earning a move to Peterborough United in 2019. He went on to join Burton Albion two years later, before joining the Robins on loan the following season in August 2022.

The move was made permanent in January 2023, and he went on to win the club’s Player of the Season award that year, before making 41 appearances for the Robins last term as they finished 19th in League Two.

Rotherham United

Joe Powell – Burton Albion (free)

Liam Kelly – Coventry City (free)

The Millers have now completed seven signings so far in the close season with the additions of Powell and Kelly over the past week, as the recently relegated outfit remain the most proactive side in the division to date.

Powell has penned a two-year deal with the Millers, bringing an end to a four-year stay at Burton Albion. The 25-year-old started out in West Ham United’s youth system and went on to have a loan spell with Northampton Town in 2019, before the midfielder joined the Brewers permanently in 2020. Powell joins the Millers after making 186 appearances for the fellow League One outfit.

Kelly has also joined on a two-year deal from Coventry City. The 34-year-old played for Kilmarnock, Bristol City, Oldham Athletic and Leyton Orient prior to joining the Sky Blues in 2017, where the defensive midfielder made 180 appearances in a seven-year stay. The duo join Jonson Clarke-Harris, Shaun McWilliams, Joe Rafferty, Reece James and Sean Raggett in signing for the Millers so far during the off season.

Stockport County

Jayden Fevrier – Colchester United (undisclosed)

League Two champions Stockport have returned to Colchester United to complete their second transfer of the summer, with Jayden Fevrier joining Jay Mingi in signing for the Hatters.

Like Powell, Fevrier also started out in West Ham United’s youth system before joining the U’s in 2022. The winger made 12 appearances in his first season with the League Two outfit, but featured 48 times last term, as his side avoided relegation on the final day of the campaign.

Having been voted the club’s Young Player of the Season, the 21-year-old now makes the step up to League One level with Stockport, with the wide man joining for an undisclosed fee and penning a three-year deal with the Hatters.

Wigan Athletic

Michael Olakigbe – Brentford (loan)

Olakigbe became the first loan signing of the division this close season when he signed for the Latics from Brentford, where he will spend the upcoming campaign.

The 20-year-old’s youth career involved spells at QPR and Fulham prior to joining the Bees in 2022. Last season, the winger made 12 appearances for the Premier League outfit, including eight in the top flight, before joining Peterborough United for the second part of the season, where he featured five times. Olakigbe has been capped nine times at under-18 level for England and twice at U20 level.

Wycombe Wanderers

Alex Hartridge (Wycombe Wanderers – Exeter City)

Hartridge is the Chairboys’ first signing of the summer, joining from divisional rivals Exeter City. The 25-year-old came through the youth ranks at the Grecians to make 154 appearances for the first team, with the defender also having loan spells at Truro City and Bath City early on in his career. He now joins the Chairboys, who finished tenth in League One last term, three places above Exeter.