Norwich City's longest-serving player, central defender Craig Fleming, has joined League One side Rotherham United on a free transfer.Fleming, 35, who scored against the Millers in a 4-2 Carling Cup win for the Canaries in September, put pen to paper on an 18-month deal at Millmoor today.

Norwich City's longest-serving player, central defender Craig Fleming, has joined League One side Rotherham United on a free transfer.

Fleming, 35, who scored against the Millers in a 4-2 Carling Cup win for the Canaries in September, put pen to paper on an 18-month deal at Millmoor today.

The veteran defender has found it hard to keep a regular place in Peter Grant's City starting line-up and joined Wolves in a transfer window loan move earlier this month. He played just one game at Molineux before Rotherham boss Alan Knill moved in to bolster his relegation-threatened squad.

Fleming made 382 appearances for City in nearly 10 years with the club, scoring 13 times, and was player of the season in 2003-4, when the Canaries won the Nationwide League title to reach the Premiership. More than 15,000 fans turned up to his testimonial match against Newcastle last August.

Fleming will find at least one familiar face in the Millers squad as City youngster Ian Henderson is currently on loan to the Yorkshire club.

Fleming has made 12 appearances this season, six of them as a substitute.

He told the club's official website: “I would like first of all to give my heartfelt thanks to the Norwich fans for all their support during my ten seasons at Carrow Road and of course during my testimonial year. I really and sincerely hope they get the good times and the success they fully deserve in the years ahead.

“There have been some highs and lows during my time here but I've got some fantastic memories and I guess winning promotion in 2004 has to be the highlight.

“Norwich City has been a massive part of my life and it always will be. I'm just very grateful to the supporters and everyone who I've worked with at the club since I joined. I was always proud to pull on the green and yellow jersey.”

Fleming said the opportunity to play more first-team football - and the chance to link up with an old acquaintance in the shape of Millers boss Alan Knill - were the major factors which persuaded him to sign for the Millers.

“Alan was playing for Halifax when I was an apprentice there and I'm looking forward to working with him again and to hopefully playing a part in helping Rotherham to stay in League One.”

City boss Peter Grant said: “I played with Craig when I was here before and he has been a fantastic stalwart for this club.

“To be a sterling defender for so many years in the Championship and of course for a season in the Premiership is a massive achievement. To do it with the same club in this day and age is magnificent.

“Craig is a credit to himself and his family and a model professional. The move to Rotherham will hopefully give him the opportunity to play first team football and I know he will be giving it everything to try and help them avoid the drop.”