Former Wigan Athletic striker Will Keane has joined Doncaster Rovers on a short-term deal until January, giving the 33-year-old a fresh opportunity in League One.
Rovers announced the signing on Tuesday, with the move subject to approval from the Football Association and EFL. Keane arrives as a free agent after spending the second half of last season on loan at Reading from Preston North End.
Doncaster have been given special dispensation to replace the injured Frankie Okoronkwo on their 22-man squad list, with the forward expected to be unavailable until the new year.
A name that still means something at Wigan
For Latics supporters, Keane will always bring back memories of a very different moment in the club’s recent history.
He returned to Wigan in October 2020, when administration had left the club fighting for its future. His second spell became far more significant than the brief loan stint he had previously spent with Latics as a Manchester United youngster.
Keane helped Wigan survive in League One before becoming the leading scorer in the division as Leam Richardson’s side won the title in 2021/22. His 26 league goals were central to that promotion.
That is the version of Keane Wigan fans will remember most clearly: a forward who found his confidence and his scoring touch at precisely the time the club needed both. The journey from administration to lifting the League One trophy gave that team a connection with supporters that went well beyond results alone.
Another opportunity in League One
Keane left Wigan for Preston in July 2023 and later reunited with Richardson at Reading on loan. He now gets another chance to establish himself with Doncaster.
Grant McCann has pointed to his experience and scoring record, with Rovers looking for another attacking option while Okoronkwo recovers.
A return to Wigan would have appealed to plenty of supporters who remember exactly what Keane gave this club. Seeing him picked up by another League One side will only add to the frustration among fans who feel Latics’ owners are unwilling to invest enough in the squad. There is no indication Wigan pursued a deal, but it is easy to understand why some will see this as a missed opportunity.
For Keane, the immediate task is straightforward: turn a contract running only until January into a meaningful contribution on the pitch. For Wigan supporters, it is another chapter to follow in the career of a player whose part in the 2022 title will not be forgotten.