Wanderers SWOOP for MILLS - OFFICIAL

Signed on a three year contract.

WANDERERS have confirmed the signing of Leicester City defender Matt Mills.

The Whites have not divulged the fee paid for the 25-year-old centre-half but it is understood to be around £2million.

A season-long loan had been agreed between the two clubs before the deal hit a snag just over a week ago. After further talks, the transfer has now been made a permanent one, with the former Reading and Doncaster man signing a three-year contract.

Mills was signed by Sven-Goran Eriksson from Reading last season in a deal that could have eventually been worth £5m. But after the former England boss left the King Power Stadium Mills quickly found himself out in the cold under Nigel Pearson.

He did not play for the Foxes during the last three months of last season and was ordered to train with the reserves. But Mills – who helped Reading into the play-off finals the season before last - is due to start a new chapter in his career by joining his new team-mates at Euxton tomorrow.

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Bolton Wanderers have struck a deal with Leicester City to bring Matt Mills to the Reebok Stadium on a three-year contract.

The central defender, 25, becomes manager Owen Coyle's second signing of the summer transfer window after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.

Coyle said: "Matt is a player who has a high level of experience in the Championship. We are delighted to have made this acquisition as he adds strength and quality into the mix.

"He is 25 years old and has already captained teams at this level, so we know what he will bring to the squad, both on and off the pitch."

Last season Mills made 31 appearances for Leicester having been recruited from Reading almost a year ago.

During his two-year spell with the Royals, Mills had been a virtual ever-present, clocking up 75 games between the summers of 2009 and 2011.

Just over 12 months ago he helped Reading to reach the Championship play-off final, scoring a header as they were denied promotion to the top-flight by Swansea, who won the game at Wembley 4-2.

Mills originally started out his career at Southampton, but enjoyed loan spells at Coventry City and Bournemouth to gain further experience, during which he caught the eye of scouts at Manchester City, who signed him on a deal in January 2006.

Having made two Premier League appearances for City against Chelsea and Wigan Athletic, loan spells at Colchester United and Doncaster Rovers followed for Mills before he made the permanent switch to the Keepmoat Stadium in the summer of 2008.

After a single season at Doncaster, Reading moved to secure Mills' services for £2million in 2009.

Mills' career statistics reads 226 senior appearances in all competitions, which includes 15 goals scored.
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Good news - nice to see players coming in before deadline day.

That was one of the slowest swoops on record. More of a five stage interview process that finally led to a decision.

I'd like our away kit to be like Mills' outfit - navy shirt and white shorts. It'll probably be black and yellow though.