Millwall FC stumbled upon unexpected bonus after Leeds United loan agreement | OneFootball

Charlie Cresswell proved himself as a goalscoring threat while on loan with Millwall from Leeds United

Championship side Millwall can be proud of the fact that they have largely resided comfortably in the second tier since they won the League One play-off final back in 2017.

The only time the Lions have been threatened by relegation since earning promotion from the third tier came in 2018/19, when they finished just four points above the drop zone.

One of the most successful seasons the Lions have enjoyed since making their Championship return arrived in 2021/22, when the Den side landed a ninth place finish.

In fact, Millwall finished a mere six points shy of the play-off spots that campaign, and then manager Gary Rowett knew that he had to oversee a successful summer transfer window ahead of the 2022/23 season, in order to maintain such positive momentum.

One notable signing who moved to the Den during the summer of 2022 was defender Charlie Cresswell, who joined on loan from then Premier League outfit Leeds United.

Millwall stumbled across an unexpected bonus after signing Charlie Cresswell from Leeds United

During the aforementioned 2021/22 campaign, the Lions boasted a strong defence, who conceded just 45 goals all term in the Championship.

Rowett's men also managed a respectable return of 53 goals that season, largely thanks to the efforts of strikers Benik Afobe and Tom Bradshaw, who notched a combined tally of 21 goals in the second tier.

But prior to the 2022/23 season, Rowett was intent on further bolstering his Lions backline, hence the loan signing of then Leeds starlet Cresswell.

Cresswell's defensive efforts in Millwall colours were reflected by the fact that the London outfit finished an agonising one point below the play-off spots, having conceded just 50 goals in the Championship that term.

However, neither Rowett nor the Lions faithful could have anticipated that the young defender would also prove to be a genuine threat at the end of the pitch.

Cresswell proved them wrong though, as he managed a relatively impressive return of four goals and two assists in 28 Championship appearances.

Most memorably, he even scored a brace on his Lions debut, as Rowett's men defeated Stoke City 2-0 on 30th July 2022.

Millwall supporters may have fonder memories of Cresswell than that of the Leeds United faithful

Cresswell is a Leeds academy graduate, who went on to ply his trade for the Whites in both the Premier League and Championship, while he was also an England youth international.

However, despite the fact he was a permanent player for the Whites, and only ever played for the Lions on loan, the defender actually made more appearances for the London club before joining French Ligue 1 side Toulouse during the summer of 2024.

He never made more than seven outings for Leeds in a single campaign, while he made 30 appearances for the Lions during his season-long stay in the South East.

Courtesy of his lack of game time at senior level for the Whites, it is Millwall supporters who will have fonder memories of Cresswell, despite the fact he came through the youth academy ranks with the West Yorkshire club.

Furthermore, the positive feeling Lions fans will still have towards Cresswell were only intensified by the fact that he was also able to prove his worth in the final third during his time with the club.