Winners and losers in Alfie Doughty’s transfer to Millwall from Luton Town include Rob Edwards

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Millwall have signed full-back Alfie Doughty from Luton Town, which will be a major transfer blow for Rob Edwards and Middlesbrough.

Both Millwall and Middlesbrough finished outside of the top-six places in the 2024/25 Championship campaign and have been mentioned in the same headlines when it comes to transfers.

Earlier this summer, Millwall signed Josh Coburn from Boro following his impressive loan spell with the Lions last season, in a club-record deal for the London outfit.

Recently, both sides have been involved in a transfer saga over Luton Town full-back Alfie Doughty, with Millwall winning the race for his signature.

Millwall hijacked Middlesbrough’s move for Doughty this week, and now his signing has been officially confirmed, EFL Analysis takes a look at the winners and losers from the deal.

• READ MORE: Middlesbrough fans are starting to turn on Hayden Hackney after claim he’s ‘open’ to Ipswich Town move

Winners from Alfie Doughty signing for Millwall from Luton Town

Millwall and Alex Neil

Millwall fans welcomed Doughty with open arms after his move was confirmed this week, and the Lions are the biggest winners within the deal.

Since arriving at Luton from Stoke City in the summer of 2022, Doughty cemented himself as one of the best full-backs in the EFL, even proving himself at Premier League level for the Hatters in 2023/24.

Doughty’s attacking exploits, evidenced by his six goals and 18 assists in his 105 Luton appearances, will be a massive benefit to Alex Neil’s side next season, and could make the difference in a promotion push.

Alfie Doughty

Aside from Millwall and Neil, Doughty himself has to be seen as a winner in the deal, after returning to Championship football instantly following Luton’s relegation to League One.

With Doughty signing on the dotted line for his boyhood club, it presents him with an ideal opportunity to rediscover his best form, after injuries made it difficult for the Englishman last season.

Doughty captioned his signing photo as “Go time” on Instagram, and he will waste no time chasing Premier League promotion with the Lions.

• READ MORE: Millwall eye triple transfer swoop to boost promotion hopes including Spurs youngster tipped to ‘make an impact’

Losers from Alfie Doughty signing for Millwall from Luton Town

Middlesbrough and Rob Edwards

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards is an unseen loser from Doughty’s move to Millwall.

EFL Analysis outlined that Middlesbrough were pushing to sign Doughty before Millwall joined the race, after Doughty to Middlesbrough was mooted earlier in the window.

Our Chief Football correspondent, Graeme Bailey, explained that Edwards’ former Luton left-back was a ‘dream signing’ for the newly appointed Boro boss, but now the Teessiders have missed out on his signature.

Matt Bloomfield and Luton Town

Doughty’s former manager Matt Bloomfield, along with Edwards, is a loser in the full-back’s transfer to Millwall.

Millwall may have cost Luton promotion to the Championship with Doughty’s acquisition, and Hatters boss Bloomfield will have a difficult task on his hands to replace the defender within the summer transfer window, with the 2025/26 League One campaign rapidly approaching.