Notts County say farewell as Macaulay Langstaff leaves the League Two club for life in the Championship as he signs for Millwall.
Five clubs expressed an interest in signing Langstaff with an official bid made for the goalscorer, with Millwall coming out on top for a reported fee of £700k.
The 27 year old was only made captain in June and had signed a new deal until 2027 back in August, adding to the price.
It was @DarrenOWitcoop tweeted on the 28th June: “Expect Macaulay Langstaff to leave Notts County before September’s deadline. Five clubs, including three from League One, have declared an interest with Millwall making an official bid for the striker. #nottscounty #millwall”
Football Insider said the Lions, who finished the 2023/24 Championship season sitting 13th with 59 points from 46 games played, put in an offer, and now they have got their man.
Congrats, Macca! 🤍
— Gateshead FC (@GatesheadFC) July 8, 2024
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Macaulay Langstaff is a 𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍.#Millwall pic.twitter.com/aRDM2Goyez
— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) July 8, 2024
CLUB STATEMENT
Millwall Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of Macaulay Langstaff.
The 27-year-old striker joins The Lions for an undisclosed fee from Notts County on a long-term contract and becomes Neil Harris’ first signing of the summer transfer window.
Making his professional debut at Gateshead, Langstaff spent multiple seasons hitting the back of the net with regularity in National League North, with loan spells at Blyth Spartans and Bradford Park Avenue taking place alongside a move to York City in the summer of 2018.
After two years in North Yorkshire, Langstaff then moved back to Gateshead before signing for Notts County in July 2022; he went on to make a name for himself at Meadow Lane, scoring an incredible 42 goals in the Vanarama National League – a new seasonal record for the fifth tier – as County and Wrexham played out a battle for the ages at the top of the non-League pyramid.
Included in that memorable campaign was 18 goals in a 13-game period – Macaulay only failing to find the net once in that run – as well as two hat-tricks, away at Dagenham & Redbridge and Yeovil.
The step up to Sky Bet League Two – Notts County won the Play-Offs in 2022/23 – did not deter Langstaff as he scored a further 29 times, around a third of the club’s total 2023/24 goals, to claim a third successive Golden Boot in three different divisions.
The prolific Langstaff will now make the step up to Sky Bet Championship level and join up with Neil Harris’ squad ahead of the 2024/25 season.
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NOTTS COUNTY STATEMENT:
Macaulay Langstaff has completed a move to Sky Bet Championship side Millwall for an undisclosed fee.
Since his arrival from Gateshead ahead of our promotion-winning 2022-23 season, Langstaff has scored an incredible 71 goals in 97 appearances – establishing himself as one of the most prolific strikers in the history of the world’s oldest professional club.
The Teessider scooped several awards along the way, including Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Season after firing us to National League promotion, and being named in the Sky Bet League Two Team of the Season after notching a Golden Boot-winning 28 goals in his first ever EFL campaign.
His 42-goal National League haul also set a record for the most goals scored by a Notts player in a single season – an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact that they all came from open play.
And our board of directors paid tribute to our outgoing number nine after his move to the capital was confirmed.
They said: “We’re incredibly proud of what Macaulay has achieved in his time at Meadow Lane and wish him every success as he commences this exciting new chapter in his career.
“While we knew we were signing an excellent player, we could never have envisaged his achievements reaching the heights they have done over the last two years.
“Throughout that time, and despite his numerous and well-publicised successes, Macaulay has conducted himself with the utmost professionalism and maintained fantastic relationships with everyone at the club thanks to his infectious and humble personality.
“He thoroughly deserves this opportunity and has our utmost support moving forward.
“While we share our fans’ disappointment that we won’t see Macaulay in the black and white next season, we’d like to reassure them that this deal represents excellent value for the club – and that we have, of course, been factoring his potential departure into our plans as we look to build a highly-competitive squad this summer.
“We should also all take collective pride in the part we’ve played in giving Macaulay the platform to step out of non-league and move into the second tier – a trajectory that only reflects well on us as a club.”
Head coach, Stuart Maynard, who named Langstaff as his club captain earlier this summer, added: “I would like to join the board in congratulating Macaulay on such a fantastic move.
“While we would have all loved to have kept him, his goals return was always going to make that incredibly difficult and it wouldn’t have been right for anyone to stand in his way.
“I’ve no doubt Macca will be a huge success at Millwall. He brings so much more than just goals – he’s ferocious in the press, tactically astute and a leader, hence my decision to give him the armband.
“He will, of course, be a big miss for us – but we have lots of talented attacking players in the squad who are ready to step up to the plate.”
He told Millwall TV: “It’s a massive jump. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not – it is. The quality of the Championship increases every year.
“But for the previous three years now, I’ve stepped up every season. I started in the National League North, people questioned if i could step up to the National League. I went and broke records there. Same again in League Two and I won the golden boot in my first season. I’ve answered these questions over the previous few years and that’s what I’ll be aiming to do again.
“I’m full of confidence and full of belief after the previous three years and fully believe I’ll be able to step up and score goals at this level.”
Asked if the doubts from critics drove him on, Langstaff said: “Absolutely. It’s probably my biggest motivator. When you hear people question if you can step up the levels, there’s no better feeling than proving people wrong.”
Langstaff on rumours and hearing about Millwall’s interest: “When you score goals, you attract interest and the clubs you’re linked with are just rumours and you don’t think too much of it. When you hear of a club the size of Millwall are interested in you, I think your head turns immediately.
“It’s a huge club, the history speaks for itself. I can’t wait to meet the fans, you hear how good the fanbase are.”
“Notts County was a really good time, I loved playing for the club. I think I scored 71 goals over the past two seasons and there’s no better feeling than scoring a goal, never gets boring. I love scoring goals and I hope to do that here.”
HIS CAREER:
Youth career
2007–2010 – Middlesbrough
2010–2014 – Boro Rangers
2014 Stockton Town
Senior career
2014–2015 – Stockton Town
2015–2017 – Billingham Synthonia
2017–2018 – Gateshead – 5 games (0 goals)
2017 → Billingham Synthonia (loan)
2017–2018 → Blyth Spartans (loan) – 17 games (0 goals)
2018–2020 – York City – 60 games (11 goals)
2019 → Bradford (Park Avenue) (loan) – 5 games (1 goal)
2020 → Blyth Spartans (loan) – 3 games (0 goals)
2020–2022 – Gateshead – 62 games (36 goals)
2022– Notts County – 97 games (71 goals)
HIS HONOURS IN RECENT YEARS:
Gateshead
National League North: 2021–22
Notts County
National League play-offs: 2023
Individual
National League North Golden Boot: 2021–22
National League North Team of the Year: 2021–22
National League North Player of the Season: 2021–22
National League Player of the Month: August 2022, September 2022, March 2023
Notts County Supporters’ Player of the Season: 2022–23
Notts County Players’ Player of the Season: 2022–23
National League Golden Boot: 2022–23
National League Team of the Year: 2022–23
National League Player of the Season: 2022–23
EFL League Two Team of the Season: 2023–24
EFL League Two Golden Boot: 2023–24
This is how fans reacted as Macaulay Langstaff speaks on making the six-figure move to Millwall as Notts County say farewell…
@LRbix: At least you know the pain we suffered in June 2022 now 😅
@C0reyDixon: Hahhaahah no he’s definitely staying we’ve made him captain!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@darkoparko11: Farewell King 😢 Go smash it. Millwal, you’ve got a legend in the making. But for Notts, this is a sign we’re doing something right if others want our players/coaches. Barely happened in the 20 years before the bros took over. Trust the process 👍
@thecraftymagpie: Absolutely gutted. One of the best Notts strikers in my lifetime. Use the money wisely and don’t you bloody dare sell Jodi.
@skinio: Palmer stepping up as captain then who we saying for vice. Good luck macca. Gutted but we have to move on and obviously money to sustain our club going forward COYP
@Bennyg4: Gutted. But wish him all the success in the world. What a man. Deserves his shot at the championship and at 27 had to take it now. Go well macca 🖤🤍
@MrD_75: Purchased for next to nothing, promotion achieved sold for a large profit, refusing a player the chance to move up 2 tiers would ultimately be counter productive. It is an inevitable part of success and clearly part of the plan so no panic needed, just keep building!
@Notoriousgee: Well, news I suspected but hope would not happen. All the best @maccalangstaff you’ve been nothing short of brilliant for us, so I hope you go on to smash it, a thoroughly deserved move 👊
@CheezyNCFC: This day always felt inevitable – The best goalscorer I’ll ever see at Notts. Even outside the goals you always gave 110% off the ball. Thanks for the memories Macca, been a pleasure to watch and fully deserve this chance to prove you can do it at a higher level, go smash it.
@LucasNCFC: One of the best players we’ve ever had at our club, you’re so lucky to have him. 27 and to have the calibre that he has is absolutely unreal. Will miss him loads but wish him the best of luck for y’all
@mrcuthers: He’s been such a superb player for us at Notts. From National League North & banging in goals for Gateshead, 2 incredible years at Notts breaking scoring records, and now a shot at the Championship. You’ve got a great player, but an even better man. Go well, Macca! ■□■□
@SamGuideDogTra1: Gutting, but was always going to happen eventually. Go well, Macca. And look after him, Lions fans 💔
@evanshaw_8: Best striker I’ve ever seen at notts and probably ever will. Deserves every success in the world 🖤🤍
@JeremysFoodTour: Although I didn’t want him to go you can’t deny that he deserves that opportunity. Good luck. 💪
@JRCarter1991: Love you macca! All the best thanks for everything 🖤🤍
@chriswjordan: Thanks for the amazing memories Macca and good luck in the Championship. Go smash it!
@ncfckeats: Feel like someone’s died, anybody cutting onions???
@sdbanotts: And it will be ever thus supporting Notts, watching our very best go onto pastures new. Wish Macca all the best of course, a legend for sure, and just hope the fee is reinvested into the playing budget to get us back to where we belong. A honking great hole to fill.
@davidharrywebb: Really pleased with this one. Every signing is a gamble, especially at our level but we can’t compete with the wages to sign players that excel at Championship level. He’s been pretty prolific the last few years and earned a shot. Hopefully it pays off for everyone 🙏🦁💙
@toffeehaz: Tough one to take. Great player and professional. Can only wish him all the best. Will always be welcome at the lane
@NottsCountyPoll: Best striker I’ve see at Notts, and likely will see. What an unreal signing and best of luck to a proper legend
@resilient_david: Absolutely gutted he’s gone but I really do wish @maccalangstaff all the very best. Will watch your progress with interest. The lane won’t be the same without you Macca 😧
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