Barnsley became the final League One side to sign a player this summer with Kenneth Dougall becoming the first new arrival under new head coach Daniel Stendel.
The 25 year old 6ft Australian has arrived from Holland where he was playing for Sparta Rotterdam. He made 29 appearances in 2017-2018, scoring once, against Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, however he couldn't help the club escape relegation to the second tier - the Eerste Divisie - for the third time in their history when they lost 3-1 on aggregate to FC Emmen in the promotion/relegation playoffs - however
Dougall did not feature in this match, his last appearance for the club coming in April when he played the full 90 minutes in a chastening 7-0 defeat at Vitesse.
Dougall's last couple of years have mirrored Barnsley's as just as he has suffered relegation in 2018, he previously helped Sparta win promotion to the Eredivisie in 2016 at the same time Barnsley were winning promotion to the Championship, finishing top of the Eerste Divisie, four points clear of VVV Venlo.
Dougall who can play either in the centre of midfield or as a defensive midfielder and has believed to have signed for a fee of around £450,000 (the official line, as always, is undisclosed) started his career in his native Australia with the Queensland Academy of Sport before moving on to Brisbane Roar.
He scored 10 goals in 34 games for Brisbane City between 2013-2014 and was named the National Premier League Queensland Young Player of the Year in 2013 before moving to Europe, and Holland to play for Telstar - a club who Barnsley fans may be familiar with as they signed Arjan De Zeeuw from there in 1995. Ironically Dougall's debut came against Sparta Rotterdam in October 2014 and he was moving there seven months later after contract talks broke down at Telsar.
Dougall has signed a two year contract at Oakwell with the option of a further year and Stendel told the club's official website:
“After meeting with Kenny I am really happy he’s joined the squad.”
"His personality and determination stood out to me from a mile and he’s the type of player we need at Barnsley. This squad is talented, we just needed to add something extra and I know Kenny can be the useful help we need in the midfield.
"We know his qualities at intercepting the ball and pressing the opposition, as well as his positional awareness to protect our defence. Both his personality and ability suit us, so I’m looking forward to him joining the squad.”