QPR and Millwall transfer target becomes free agent as R's also linked with 20-goal EFL bagsman

QPR and Millwall transfer target Anfernee Dijksteel will be available on a free transfer this summer following his release from Championship rivals Middlesbrough.

EFL clubs have now submitted their retained lists following the conclusion to the 2024/25 campaign, with several high profile EFL stars being made free agents. One of those is Dijksteel, who ends a six year stay at the Riverside Stadium at the age of 28.

The full-back has only played for Boro and Charlton Athletic during his professional career, having signed for the Addicks’ Development Squad in January 2016. He spent three years at The Valley before moving to the North East.

Millwall and QPR linked defender available on free transfer

Dijksteel has racked up 153 Championship appearances in that time and featured 33 times in the second tier under Michael Carrick last season, a regular in the starting XI. Despite his prominence in the team, the player has now left the club.

A statement from Middlesbrough confirmed: “Anfernee Dijksteel is confirmed as a departure after six years at the club. Anfernee made 167 appearances after arriving from Charlton in 2019 and scored three goals, including a stunning solo effort at Leeds last August.”

That news will no doubt pique the interest of QPR and Millwall. The two London outfits were credited with transfer interest in the player by reporter Darren Witcoop at the end of April and the ability to sign an experienced defender without a fee is particularly enticing.

Witcoop wrote on social media platform X: “QPR and Millwall are both interested in Middlesbrough’s out-of-contract defender Anfernee Dijksteel. Rangers have also West Brom’s Darnell Furlong on their list of targets with Jimmy Dunne set to leave Loftus Road.”

That’s not the only transfer news to be swirling around Loftus Road this weekend, despite QPR still needing to resolve their managerial debacle. Marti Cifuentes remains on ‘gardening leave’ with the west London outfit expected to replace the Catalan head coach.

QPR target League One ‘natural finisher’

Football League World reports that, despite the question marks over the coach’s future, the R’s are still working on transfer deals. The R’s are one of three Championship clubs looking at a swoop for Barnsley star Davis Keillor-Dunn.

Wrexham and Oxford United are also linked with the attacker, who scored 20 goals across all competitions for the Tykes last season, including 18 in League One. Barnsley did not make the play-offs but Keillor-Dunn was a standout star in his first season at Oakwell, having arrived from Mansfield Town last summer.

The report adds that there is a ‘fear’ Barnsley may price the player too highly for a transfer to be feasible. The versatile midfielder still has two years on his current deal with the club.

Speaking about the player in January, former Barnsley head coach Darrell Clarke told the Barnsley Chronicle: "For me, he's our best natural finisher. That's why we brought him to the football club.

"He's very intelligent with and without the ball. He's shown his quality over a long period of time throughout his career. He's been in really hot form and we're just really pleased to have him in our team.

"Not only that, he's a real good team-worker, shall we call it. He doesn't sacrifice the jobs that we need him to do, to make sure that he's good without the ball as well, which is really pleasing. He's an intelligent footballer and hopefully, his hot streak continues."

In other news, QPR hold talks with 'hurting' Championship manager as Hull City could steal Loftus Road frontrunner.