Jordan Hugill’s Time at Rotherham United Appears to Be Drawing to a Close
Pressure continues to mount at the New York Stadium as Matt Hamshaw struggles to lift Rotherham United up the Championship table. After spending 12 years away from the fourth tier, there is now a genuine concern that the South Yorkshire club could find themselves dropping into League Two by the 2026/27 season if their current trajectory does not improve.
One of the most pressing issues for the Millers has been their lack of goals. Only two teams in the division have scored fewer, highlighting a serious attacking deficiency. Sam Nombe currently leads the scoring charts for Rotherham, but with just six league goals to his name, the return is far from prolific. Alarmingly, no other player in the squad has managed to score more than three league goals this season.
Among those struggling in front of goal is experienced striker Jordan Hugill. The 33-year-old forward, whose contract expires at the end of the current campaign, is reportedly one of the club’s highest earners. Given his sizeable wage and limited impact this season, it appears increasingly unlikely that he will be offered a new deal.
Calls Grow for Hugill to Depart This Summer
According to reports from the Rotherham Advertiser, Hugill sits at the top of the club’s wage bill, yet his performances during the 2025/26 campaign have not justified that financial outlay. The expectation is that Rotherham will allow his contract to run down without offering an extension.
Speaking to Football League World, Rotherham fan pundit Tom Eyre suggested that the decision to part ways with Hugill has effectively already been made — and that it is the correct course of action. Eyre pointed out that Hugill consumes a significant portion of the club’s wage budget, something the Millers have been attempting to reduce. He referenced January’s loan departure of Sean Raggett as further evidence of efforts to trim expenses.
From a financial standpoint, Eyre believes releasing Hugill is a necessary move. He argued that the money currently allocated to the veteran striker could be better invested elsewhere in the squad.
While acknowledging that Hugill contributed positively during certain spells, Eyre maintained that his overall return does not justify his salary. He suggested that Rotherham could recruit a more effective forward for similar or lower wages. As a result, many supporters are unlikely to object to his departure, especially given that the move has not unfolded as optimistically as many had hoped.
A Promising Arrival That Failed to Deliver Long-Term
When Hugill joined Rotherham in January 2023, the signing appeared to be a shrewd piece of business. Bringing substantial Championship experience and even a handful of Premier League appearances with him, he seemed well-equipped to lead the line.
He made an encouraging start, scoring five goals in 18 appearances as Rotherham successfully avoided relegation to League One that season. However, his productivity declined significantly thereafter. Across the following three seasons, he has added only eight more league goals to his tally.
For a team embroiled in a relegation battle, having a clinical striker can make all the difference. Unfortunately, whether due to tactical setup or individual form, Hamshaw has struggled to get the best out of Hugill during his tenure at the New York Stadium.
Now sidelined through injury and with his contract nearing its conclusion, Hugill’s Rotherham career seems to be approaching an inevitable end. With limited time remaining — and possibly no opportunity to make a final impression — his spell with the Millers increasingly looks like an expensive gamble that ultimately failed to pay off.
