Chief Executive Gauthier Ganaye ensured Barnsley made one final purchase on transfer deadline day before his departure from the club today.
The Reds secured the signing of 20 year old striker George Miller from Championship outfit Middlesbrough.
Miller has spent the first half of the season on loan at Barnsley's League One rivals Bradford City where he has scored six goals and provided three assists and also featured in both league meetings this season, coming on as a substitute in both.
Miller who was born in Bolton on the 11th August 1998 - the day before Barnsley knocked Scarborough of the League Cup - started his career with Bury, ironically making his debut against Barnsley, playing 30 minutes in a 3-0 win for the Reds on the 7th February 2016 - his only appearance that season before having a brief loan spell at non-league Witton Albion where he netted once in two games.
2016-2017 was the breakout season for Miller as he scored eight times in 31 games for the Shakers, helping them to avoid relegation by a point.
This form helped Miller gain a move to the Championship, signing for Middlesbrough in the summer of 2017, signing a three year contract and he made his debut in a 2-0 EFL Cup win at Aston Villa that August.
He made two further appearances for Boro, albeit for their Under 21s side in the Football League Trophy (both 4-1 defeats) before joining Wrexham on loan until January and then back to Bury where he netted in each of his first four appearances back at the Gigg Lane side, finishing again with eight goals for the campaign.
He joined Bradford in a one year loan deal in July 2018 which is believed to have had no recall clause included, thus meaning that when he signed for the Reds yesterday (for a reported fee of £200,000) he has returned to the Bantams on loan for the remainder of this season with the West Yorkshire side currently in the relegation zone on goal difference.
As mentioned before, this was the last transfer dealing by Chief Executive Gauthier Ganaye who will move to French outfit Nice - also owned by Barnsley owner Chien Lee. It had been rumoured before Christmas that this move was happening and then finally confirmed by the club this week with Ganaye telling the official website:
“I will always be grateful to Patrick Cryne for giving me the opportunity to become Chief Executive of this great club. I have enjoyed every minute of my time here and I believe that we have built something together that everyone can be proud of.
“It was important for me to make sure this transfer window was completed before leaving, allowing Daniel and his staff to remain at the club with the best possible chance of promotion back to the Championship this season.
“From day one of me moving to Barnsley, everyone in the community welcomed me and my family and we leave after 20 months, feeling part of the community here. I have met many of you in and around the town or at games, my son has been raised here since he was born, and my wife has made friends for life amongst you. This isn’t us leaving, we’re just moving and we will remain on the journey with you."
In the interim co-chairman Paul Conway will take over Ganaye's role, at least until the end of the season.