Millwall complete statement £2.9m striker signing to beat transfer deadline

Millwall have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old striker Mihailo Ivanović with the Lions completing the deal in the final minutes of the summer transfer window. It had been a difficult summer for Neil Harris who has voiced concern about the club’s recruitment, and he will not have been best pleased with the departure of Zian Flemming to Burnley in the final minutes of deadline day.

Flemming joined long-time admirers Burnley on a loan deal with a £7million obligation to buy. Though, Millwall will have eased their manager’s fears with a run of late deals. They snapped up Ryan Wintle on loan from Cardiff City before signing Calum Scanlon on a temporary deal from Liverpool.

Josh Coburn was then snapped up on an impressive loan deal from Middlesbrough, and another striker has now been snapped up in Ivanovic, who joins from Vojvodina in Serbia, penning a long-term deal.

The 19-year-old made 38 league appearances for Vojvodina, scoring 10 times, and he previously had a loan spell with Sampdoria, though he only made one league appearance. He is a former Serbia under-18s international. While the fee is undisclosed, reports suggest Millwall have paid £2.9million to complete the deal in a statement signing. The deal involves a club-record fee.

"Mihailo is a big signing for the football club," said Steve Gallen, the Lions' director of football told the club website. "He is soon to be a Serbian international and is 19-years-old, so he fits the bill of the players we have tried to sign in this transfer window.

"He is young, powerful, athletic and quick; more of a number nine in running the channels and good with his back to goal. I think we all understand we have to be patient with him - I'm sure the fans will be, I know we will be. We're really pleased to get this deal over the line."

Ivanovic will not be available for Saturday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday and will make his debut for the Lions after the international break.