Millwall FC turned in a blinder with left-field transfer that secured £7m+ cash windfall: View | OneFootball

Zian Flemming was a key man for the Lions and will net them a healthy profit when his move to Burnley becomes permanent

Millwall have rarely brought in players from the foreign market in years gone by, but one particular 2022 signing looks to have changed their transfer stance after his impressive spell at The Den that is soon due to net the club a sizeable profit.

Zian Flemming became Millwall's club-record signing when he made the switch from Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard to South London in the summer of 2022 for an initial £1.5m, and he soon became one of their best overseas imports in recent history.

The Dutchman was key to the Lions' success in his debut season in English football as they finished eighth in the Championship under Gary Rowett, and he impressed again last season to earn a move to second-tier promotion-chasers Burnley in the recent summer transfer window.

Flemming is on loan at Turf Moor for the entirety of this campaign, but will become a permanent Burnley player at the end of the season for a reported fee worth in excess of £7m, which represents a healthy profit and successful business by the Lions.

Zian Flemming was a key man for Millwall

The attacking midfielder joined the Lions on a three-year contract after impressing in the top-flight and second-tier with Fortuna in his native country, and his first season in South London proved that they were right to splash the cash to bring him in from overseas.

Flemming got off to a slow start with no goal contributions in the first 10 games of the season, but he soon got to grips with the Championship and netted five goals in five games in September and October, then bagged a hat-trick at Preston as Rowett's side ascended to the play-off places.

He registered seven more goals and three assists throughout the rest of the campaign, including winners against Stoke City and Blackpool, as his standout exploits saw him pick up the club's Player of the Season award for his performances, and the Lions finished just a point outside of the play-off places with the help of his stellar form.

That outstanding season saw him attract transfer attention from then Premier League new boys Burnley last summer, but he stayed at The Den for the 2023/24 campaign and saw his form drop-off somewhat, as the team struggled under Rowett and rookie boss Joe Edwards, who only lasted three months in charge.

He still managed to register seven goals and five assists across 46 appearances in the Championship last season, which was a decent return for a player in a struggling Lions side, but a big reduction from his previous campaign.

It is, then, understandable as to why Millwall were happy to let him leave to finally join the Clarets this summer, with the South London Press reporting upon his August exit that there had been "a growing feeling" that he was set to depart for a new challenge.

Burnley's offer for Flemming was too good to turn down for Millwall

Despite his departure seeming likely all summer, it would have come as a shock to many that the Lions were happy to allow the 26-year-old to leave with just two days of the window left to bring in any potential replacements.

Millwall boss Neil Harris admitted his frustration at the move happening so late on, but hinted that the deal had likely been too valuable for a club of their financial standing to reject.

"We’ve sold Zian Flemming for a healthy profit," Harris told the Southwark News in the days after the move.

“I have to accept that as head coach. That is the model that we are creating. It was difficult for me as a manager.

“I don’t want to lose my most influential attacking player on the last day with no one to replace him with, other than Mihailo (Ivanovic) who has come in and he is going to be missing for eight weeks.”

With that said, it is clear that Millwall are opting for a different transfer strategy when it comes to trying to bring in players for low-risk fees and sell them on for profit after standout performances.

Flemming's great spell in South London has opened doors for more overseas players to join the club, such as the aforementioned Ivanovic, or Casper De Norre, who have both since arrived from abroad in recent years.