Sheffield Wednesday hero undergoing Millwall medical after deal agreed for hugely-influential star

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan is reportedly undergoing a medical at Millwall after agreeing an 18-month deal to join the London club.

The Scotsman has played 477 games for the Owls but is leaving the club he has become synonymous with following a several off-field issues for the Hillsborough outfit. They have been deducted 18 points this campaign after entering administration and still have a negative points tally in the Championship table.

The South Yorkshire club are all-but relegated with Bannan now set to join a side fighting for a place in the top six. The 36-year-old has scored three goals and provided three assists in 29 Championship matches this season but the hugely-influential Wednesday icon is now departing South Yorkshire.

He has played in London before, having been with Crystal Palace between 2013 and 2015 after starting his career at Aston Villa. He joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2015 but manager Henrik Pedersen confirmed over the weekend the player wanted to leave due to the off-field issues.

Bannan was given a standing ovation by the away supporters after the Owls lost to Bristol City as his manager said: "What I can say is that Barry wants to leave the club after the whole situation and that Barry and his representative are speaking to the club to find a solution.

"Barry has made this decision and he wants to leave and I have very big respect for Barry and also for the solution, but of course I am not happy that he is leaving."

Pedersen continued: "You could feel Barry's emotion from him to them and you could feel the emotion from them to him, so of course it was an emotional moment.

"I said to him 'I'll miss you a lot' – on a football level, a captain level, a friend level. It will be tough but we also have a fantastic dressing room today and we have a lot of young, hungry players with a big, big heart for our club who are ready to do everything we can."

Sky Sports reported on Monday night that Bannan had arrived in London to begin his medical with Millwall and that process is expected to continue on Tuesday before being completed.

He has agreed an 18-month deal with Alex Neil’s side, who are currently fifth in the Championship. They are six points above Bristol City in seventh and in a strong position to at least qualify for the play-offs.

Automatic promotion is not yet out of their reach but they are six points behind second-placed Middlesbrough. Up next is a clash with Sheffield United at home before back-to-back away games against Wrexham and then Sheffield Wednesday.