Kian Spence (Rotherham United)
25-year-old Spence started out in the Middlesbrough youth system but moved into senior football through the non-league route, first with Scarborough Athletic before joining Halifax Town. His time at Halifax was important in establishing him as a regular senior midfielder, and he became a consistent presence over several seasons, contributing goals from midfield and building up a reputation as an energetic and forward-thinking player. Those performances earned him a move into the Football League when Barrow signed him in 2023.
At Barrow, he became a key midfield figure across two seasons, scoring regularly and even picking up the League Two Goal of the Month award early in his time at the club. His form there led to a move to Rotherham United in 2025, stepping up to League One, where he has featured regularly during the 2025-26 season, making over 20 league appearances and scoring twice. He has largely been used as a central or defensive midfield option, starting the majority of games he has appeared in and playing significant minutes throughout the campaign.
Spence is a midfielder, box-to-box, not unlike Tom Bayliss. If we step up, and Rotherham go down, he’s sure to be one looking for a move from the Millers. He can play the holding role and push forward a little, and is known to be partial to a long-range strike.
Given that we’ve signed Ivan, I’m sure the club will have options outside of League One, but Kian’s numbers align with our values. He’s 16th in the division for defensive duels per 90, and is described by the Rotherham Advertiser as a runner, one who is quick but never stops. When you remember Conor McGrandles tracking back hard against the Millers and Mansfield, and in every other game, you will see how Spence fits what we might need next season.