Barnsley have today confirmed the free transfer signing of former Chelsea midfielder Jacob Mellis on a two-year contract.
The 21 year old, who started his career down the road with Sheffield United, before securing a £1m switch to West London, enjoyed a successful loan spell at Oakwell in 2010-2011, scoring twice in 15 appearances.
He was sacked, along with Billy Clifford from Chelsea this year after setting off a smoke grenade at the club’s training ground, and Reds boss Keith Hill has moved to tie the promising youngster down to a permanent deal.
Hill told the club’s official website:
I'm really pleased to have got Jacob. He's a quality player and I am really looking forward to working with him.
"We're both on the same page as to what is to be expected and demanded from him.
"I can't think of a better talented player to recruit in the interest of bringing success to the football club."
Mellis joins Kelvin Etuhu at the club this summer, and they are set to be joined by Egyptian international Mido on Thursday.
Some media reports had claimed the 29 year old former Tottenham, Middlesbrough and West Ham striker would sign on Monday, but the club say the talks have taken a while longer than expected but the man who hit 20 goals in 63 appearances for Spurs is expected to undergo a medical on Thursday and will represent Barnsley’s biggest coup in years.