Matt Done returns to Rochdale AFC

Matt Done resigns for Rochdale AFC

Matt Done has signed a two-year-deal to re-join Rochdale AFC for a third time.

The 29-year-old Dale favourite said: “I’m excited to be back. I’ve had some good times here and hopefully we can emulate those times again.

“The first time I was here, we just missed out on making the play-offs in League One, and then when I came back the second time, we won promotion back to League One, so hopefully the third time will be, as they say, third time lucky and we’ll get promoted to the Championship. That’s why I’ve come back, to try and help get this club promoted to the Championship.

“I’m looking forward to working under the gaffer again and with the squad that he’s put together.”

Manager Keith Hill said: “Once he had shown the inclination to come back it’s something I tried to pursue with the board of directors, the chief executive and Done’s representatives and we’ve managed to get the deal done.

“I’m really pleased – it’s been ongoing for some time behind the scenes to actually get it done prior to the start of the season.”

Done first arrived at Dale in 2010 and went on to join Barnsley a year later, linking up with Hill. After a two year stint at Oakwell, Done returned to Dale in the summer of 2013.

Following a highly successful period, including promotion to League One, Done left the club during the January transfer window in 2015 and joined Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee. He was part of the Sheffield United squad that won automatic promotion to the Championship last season.

Returning to Dale for a third time, he made over 100 appearances for the club during his last two spells.