Millwall closing in on loan-to-buy transfer deal for Austria international winger Thierno Ballo | OneFootball

Millwall are close to striking a deal for the 23-year-old

Millwall are closing in on the signing of Wolfsberger AC winger Thierno Ballo.

The Lions have experienced contrasting fortunes during their start to the 2025/26 campaign, with wins over Norwich City and Sheffield United cancelled out by defeats against Middlesbrough and Wrexham.

An impressive EFL Cup run has also coincided with this league form, as victories versus Newport and Coventry City have set up an exciting London Derby with Crystal Palace for Millwall in the next round.

Alex Neil’s men sit 12th in the standings as we head into the international break, just two points outside of the play-off places.

Millwall homing in on Thierno Ballo deal in initial loan agreement

Millwall have made necessary improvements throughout the summer window, bolstering their midfield with additions such as Alfie Doughty and Massimo Luongo.

Josh Coburn was recruited from Middlesbrough permanently in an attempt to add some extra firepower to Neil’s attack, but the Lions clearly feel that there is still room for improvement in forward areas.

And according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph via X, Millwall are edging ever closer to the signing of Wolfsberger AC attacker Thierno Ballo.

The move will be in the form of an initial loan deal, with an option included to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season, should the temporary move go well.

Ballo - who was capped by Austria for the first time in June - came through the ranks at Premier League giants Chelsea before departing for his current club in 2022.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed consistently impressive performances during his time across the continent, scoring 33 goals and providing 18 assists over the last three years - 13 of his strikes that found the back of the net came last season though.

Versatility is another one of Ballo’s key strengths, as he can operate as a striker, on either wing or in the number 10 role, which will make him an even more useful asset for Neil to utilise this term - albeit he has featured more often than not recently as a wide player.

Ballo has competed in the UEFA Europa Conference League during his time in Austria, which means that he will be adding the crucial experience gained through playing European football to the Lions’ dressing room.

Thierno Ballo should give Millwall an extra edge in attack

On the whole, Millwall’s start to the 2025/26 campaign has been promising and will give the Lions’ faithful hope that they can push for the play-offs once more.

However, a slight area of concern during the opening fixtures has been goalscoring. Neil’s side have scored more than once on just a single occasion in the league and have failed to net both times they have tasted defeat.

This is an issue that the Millwall boss has clearly tried addressing during the final stages of the window, which explains the reasoning behind striking a deal for Ballo.

The forward’s attacking prowess and versatility should provide the Lions with an extra edge up front, which could pay dividends across 46 games.