Benik Afobe is continuing his career away from Stoke City be joining Millwall on a season-long loan.
The 28-year-old striker has been re-signed by Gary Rowett, who had made him Stoke's flagship signing in the summer of 2018 as they tried to win an immediate return to the Premier League.
He joined from Wolves on a deal that would be worth £12m but struggled to find his best stride and then fell down the pecking order once Rowett had been sacked.
Afobe spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Bristol City, where he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and then last term at Fenerbahc.e
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He returned to Stoke for pre-season training this week but it was clear his future lay elsewhere - although he is under contract at the bet365 Stadium until 2023.
His exit follows the departures of Kevin Wimmer, Moritz Bauer, Liam Lindsay, Ryan Woods and Jordan Cousins, as well as Nathan Collins's big money move to Burnley. highly-rated Connor Taylor joining Bristol Rovers on a development loan and John Obi Mikel's shock move to Kuwait.
Rowett had previously re-signed Woods, his £7m Stoke capture, for 18 months on loan at Millwall before he made the permanent switch to Birmingham last week.
Afobe had been seen as a big piece of the puzzle he was putting together at the bet365 Stadium following relegation to the Championship.
The manager said at the time: “If there’s one signing you want to make to get you out of the Championship Benik is that kind of player.
“He’s an excellent character and at 25 he has bags of potential but has already shown what he’s all about by scoring a lot of goals. He fits the profile of how I want to play in terms of pace, athleticism, flexibility and he certainly has an eye for a goal.”
Afobe has scored eight goals in 46 league appearances for the club, 26 of which were in Rowett's half-season at the helm.
He was one of nine signings that summer but only Sam Clucas is part of the first team plans three years on.
