23-Year-Old Celtic Player Wanted By Bolton Wanderers And Millwall: What’s The Right Decision For Glasgow Giants? | OneFootball

Johnny Kenny is at the centre of a proper summer tug-of-war. According to reporter Alan Nixon via his Patreon account, relayed by @eflpublished on X, two Championship clubs are actively trying to pry the 23-year-old forward away from Glasgow. Bolton Wanderers want him back permanently after his successful loan spell last term. Millwall have also thrown their hat into the ring, with Alex Neil keen to bring the Sligo-born frontman to The Den.

Celtic striker eyed by two Championship clubs this summer

Celtic will let him leave. There is a condition, though. Parkhead bosses will only sanction the sale once they have brought in a proper replacement up front. It makes the whole saga uncertain. Nixon expects more teams to join the scramble as pre-season gets underway.

The view from the stands

FARO, PORTUGAL – JULY 16: Johnny Kenny of Celtic FC during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting CP and Celtic at Estadio Algarve on July 16, 2025 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Kenny cost Celtic just £140,000 from Sligo Rovers back in January 2022. He spent years out on loan before finally getting a look-in under Martin O’Neill. His Scottish Premiership numbers last season were decent enough, yielding 4 goals and 2 assists in 15 games. Then came the February switch to Bolton.

He was brilliant in Greater Manchester. Six goals and three assists in 14 matches helped Steven Schumacher’s side secure promotion to the Championship via a 4-1 Wembley thumping of Stockport. Sadly, a knee injury meant he missed the final itself.

Cashing in now makes total sense for Celtic. The player has a contract until 2029 and a market value hovering around the €400,000 mark. The club hold plenty of leverage to demand a decent fee, likely close to the £500,000 bid from Bolton that they knocked back last summer. Keeping him serves nobody. He needs regular football, and the second tier of English football is the perfect step up.

Millwall might actually represent the best clean slate for the player. Bolton offers comfort, sure. But the Lions finished third last year, barely missing out on the Premier League. That is a massive platform for a young striker.

Celtic cannot afford to mess this up. The recruitment team panicked last summer, bringing in Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer after failing to properly replace Adam Idah. They cannot repeat those mistakes. The clause stating Kenny stays until a new number nine arrives is spot on.

Names are already swirling around Glasgow. Plymouth Argyle’s Lorent Tolaj and Falkirk’s Barney Stewart are heavily linked with a move to Celtic Park. If O’Neill can get one of them, the Kenny money covers the cost.