Rotherham United complete permanent signing of Cardiff City defender Semi Ajayi

The 23-year-old has committed to a contract that will run until the summer of 2020, however the deal is subject to FA, EFL and international clearance.

Ajayi has spent the last two months on loan at Rotherham and has made nine appearances, scoring once.

His loan move to the New York Stadium came about at the end of the January transfer window however Ajayi has been unable to help Rotherham arrest their poor form in the Championship.

The Millers' relegation to League One is set to be confirmed early next month following a disastrous campaign at the foot of the Championship.

Rotherham have not won since Ajayi joined the club but that has not stopped the Nigerian defender catching the eye of interim manager Paul Warne.

Warne said: "He has really impressed us around the training ground with his attitude.

"He always wants to play, even when he has been sore after games, he was ready to go again for the club.

"That is the kind of mentality that we want here, I think you can really judge someone's character from their desire to go through the pain barrier for the team.

"Semi has done well but we are all working hard with him so he keeps improving. The staff are trying to get him to be more vocal, and he is coming along well with that side of his game.

"Hammy (Matt Hamshaw) especially has done a lot of work with him, and Semi has responded with a real desire to work hard and continue to improve his game. His determination and application has been first class.”

Ajayi burst through the youth ranks of Charlton Athletic before a move to Arsenal in September 2013.

A successful loan spell at Cardiff saw him make the move to the Welsh capital permanent in 2015.

However, after struggling to force his way into the first team at Cardiff, Ajayi spent loan spells at AFC Wimbledon and Crewe Alexandra last season.

Ajayi joins fellow loanee Alex Bray in making his loan switch permanent, after the Millers recently secured the long-term services of the Swansea City winger.