2026–27 Rotherham United F.C. season
102nd season in existence of Rotherham United FC
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The 2026–27 season is the 102nd season in the history of Rotherham United Football Club and their first season back being in League Two since the 2012–13 season following relegation from League One in the preceding season. In addition to the domestic league, the club would also participate in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.
| 2026–27 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Tony Stewart |
| Head coach | Alex Bruce |
| Stadium | New York Stadium |
Prior to the season starting, Alex Bruce was appointed as head coach on a two-year contract.[1]
Transfers and contracts
In
| Date | Pos. | Player | From | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2026[a] | CF |  Fábio Tavares |  Burton Albion | Free | [2] |
| 7 July 2026 | RW |  Aaron Nemane | Milton Keynes Dons | [3] | |
| 10 July 2026 | CDM | Ossama Ashley | Salford City | [4] | |
| CM | Jamie Jellis | Walsall | [5] | ||
| 29 July 2026 | CF | Paul Mullin |  Wrexham | [6] | |
| 4 August 2026 | CB |  Kieran Ngwenya |  Dunfermline Athletic | [7] | |
| CB | Ewan Otoo | [8] | |||
| 5 August 2026 | CF | Tom Bradshaw | Oxford United | [9] | |
| 7 August 2026 | CB | Sonny Aljofree | Manchester United | [10] |
- The transfer was announced on 27 June, and would become official on July 1 once Tavares's contract at Burton Albion expired.
Loaned in
| Date | Pos. | Player | From | Loaned until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 July 2026 | LB | Jili Buyabu | Sheffield United | End of Season | [11] |
Loaned out
| Date | Pos. | Player | To | Date until | Ref. |
|---|
Out
| Date | Pos. | Player | To | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 July 2026 | CF | Sam Nombe | Milton Keynes Dons | Undisclosed | [12] |
Released / Out of Contract
| Date | Pos. | Player | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2026 | CF | Josh Ayres | Woking | 1 July 2026 | [13][14] |
| RW | Jack Holmes | Boston United | [15][16] | ||
| CF | Jordan Hugill | Hartlepool United | [17][18] | ||
| CF |  Ciaran McGuckin | Harrogate Town | [17][19] | ||
| CM | Joe Powell | Salford City | [20][21] | ||
| CB | Sean Raggett | Colchester United | [17][22] | ||
| CB | Zak Jules |  Eyüpspor | 7 July 2026 | [17][23] | |
| CM | Dru Yearwood | Chaves | 13 July 2026 | [13][24] | |
| CDM | Shaun McWilliams | Cheltenham Town | 17 July 2026 | [13][25] | |
| RW | Duncan Watmore | [17][26] | |||
| CM | Josh Benson | [17] | |||
| GK | Cameron Dawson | [17] | |||
| CAM | Ben Hatton | [17] | |||
| LB | Reece James | [17] | |||
| CF |  Joshua Kayode | [17] | |||
| CDM | Liam Kelly | [17] | |||
New Contract
- Option for a further year in the clubs favour.
Pre-season and friendlies
On 1 June, The Millers announced their first two pre-season friendlies against Sheffield United and Alfreton Town.[28][29] Three days later, a third opposition was confirmed in Derby County.[30] A fourth and fifth was later added against Parkgate and Matlock Town.[31][32] On 2 July, a short trip to face Emley was confirmed.[33] A week later, Darlington were added to the schedule.[34]
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 10 July 2026 Friendly | Parkgate | 0–1 | Rotherham United | Rawmarsh |
| 19:00 BST | Report |
|
Stadium: Rotherham Hospice Community Stadium |
| 14 July 2026 Friendly | Emley | 1–1 | Rotherham United | Emley |
| 19:00 BST | Report |
|
Stadium: Fantastic Media Welfare Ground |
| 18 July 2026 Friendly | Matlock Town | 1–1 | Rotherham United | Matlock |
| 15:00 BST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Proctor Cars Stadium Attendance: 776 |
| 21 July 2026 Friendly | Alfreton Town | 0–1 | Rotherham United | Alfreton |
| 19:30 BST | Report |
|
Stadium: Impact Arena Stadium Attendance: 399 |
| 25 July 2026 Friendly | Rotherham United | 0–2 | Sheffield United | Rotherham |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Stadium: AESSEAL New York Stadium Attendance: 3,933 |
| 28 July 2026 Friendly | Darlington | 0–2 | Rotherham United | Darlington |
| 19:30 BST | Report |
|
Stadium: Blackwell Meadows |
Competitions
League Two
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Port Vale | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Rochdale | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Rotherham United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Salford City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Shrewsbury Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First match(es) will be played: 14 August 2026. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[35]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[35]
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last updated: pre-season.
Source: Soccerway
Results by round
Matches
On 25 June, the League Two fixtures were revealed.[36]
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 15 August 2026 1 | Cheltenham Town | v | Rotherham United | Cheltenham |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: EV Charger Points Stadium |
| 22 August 2026 2 | Rotherham United | v | York City | Rotherham |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: AESSEAL New York Stadium |
| 29 August 2026 3 | Rotherham United | v | Chesterfield | Rotherham |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: AESSEAL New York Stadium | |||
| Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was brought forward two hours following advice from South Yorkshire Police.[37] | ||||
| 1 September 2026 4 | Tranmere Rovers | v | Rotherham United | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 BST | Stadium: Prenton Park |
| 5 September 2026 5 | Bristol Rovers | v | Rotherham United | Horfield |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Memorial Stadium |
| 12 September 2026 6 | Rotherham United | v | Salford City | Rotherham |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: AESSEAL New York Stadium |
| 19 September 2026 7 | Northampton Town | v | Rotherham United | Sixfields |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Sixfields Stadium |
| 26 September 2026 8 | Rotherham United | v | Crewe Alexandra | Rotherham |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: AESSEAL New York Stadium |
| 3 October 2026 9 | Exeter City | v | Rotherham United | Exeter |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: St James Park |
| 10 October 2026 10 | Rotherham United | v | Gillingham | Rotherham |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: AESSEAL New York Stadium |
| 17 October 2026 11 | Fleetwood Town | v | Rotherham United | Fleetwood |
| 12:30 BST | Stadium: Highbury Stadium | |||
| Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was brought forward for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[38] | ||||
FA Cup
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
EFL Cup
The draw for the first round was made on 25 June.[39][40]
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 8 August 2026 First round | Rotherham United | 1–4 | West Bromwich Albion | Rotherham |
| 17:30 BST | Report | Stadium: AESSEAL New York Stadium Attendance: 4,850 (2,495 away) Referee: Tom Reeves |
EFL Trophy
Group stage
Rotherham were drawn against Bradford City, York City and Newcastle United U21 into Northern Group C.[41]
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L1 | Bradford City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L2 | Rotherham United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | L2 | York City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | ACA | Newcastle United U21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: EFL
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- As of match played 8 August 2026
Players with no appearances are not included on the list; italics indicate a loaned in player
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | League Two | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK | ENG |
Ted Cann | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | IRL |
Joe Rafferty | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SCO |
Ewan Otoo | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ENG |
Ossama Ashley | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | POR |
Fábio Tavares | 1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG |
Kian Spence | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG |
Paul Mullin | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 11 | DF |  CUW |
Ar'jany Martha | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 12 | DF |  NED |
Denzel Hall | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | ENG |
Sonny Aljofree | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | IRL |
Emmanuel Adegboyega | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG |
Jamie Jellis | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | FRA |
Aaron Nemane | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG |
Jili Buyabu | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF |  JAM |
Brandon Cover | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
Disciplinary record
- As of match played 8 August 2026
| Rank | Number | Position | Nationality | Player | League Two | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | Total | ||||||||||
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| 1 | 7 | CF | | Fábio Tavares | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | CDM | | Brandon Cover | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||||