"I'm gutted" - Claim made as Reading FC allow Femi Azeez to join Millwall | OneFootball

FLW has been speaking with our Reading fan pundit to discuss how much of a blow losing Femi Azeez will be for the Royals.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Reading have sold star winger Femi Azeez to Millwall, with the Lions agreeing a deal with the Royals which sees the former Wealdstone man make his return to Championship football.

Azeez last played in the second tier with Reading back in 2022/2023, with the 23-year-old ready to make his return to the division after signing a long-term deal with Millwall.

The winger shined in League One last season, making an appearance in every single one of the Royals' league fixtures, as he established himself as one of the best in the division.

Now with the Englishman calling time on what has been almost a five-year association with the club, just how big of a blow will it be for Reading to lose him? Football League World investigates...

FLW's Reading fan pundit, Johnny Hunt, is disappointed to see Azeez go, but is optimistic that the club can find a replacement for him down the line once the ownership situation is completed.

Hunt said: "I'm gutted, it's a shame that he's going. I guess signing a new deal meant that we can get some money for him. However much that is, I don't know.

"He's inconsistent, he has his good patches as a player and creates and scores, but then he goes missing. It's a big step up for him to go to the Championship I think, but I guess the ambition to play at a higher level, I can certainly understand that.

"But from watching the under-21's, there's certainly some potential youngsters to come through, and hopefully, whenever this ownership gets finalised, we'll be able to go into loans and freebies and replace.

"Not with like for like, but someone that can do a job and fit in with the system that we're playing. But best of luck to him. It's a shame to see a local lad leave, but that's football."

Azeez has earned his Championship move

Some players take to a division instantly, whilst others require that little bit more patience as they build experience and confidence at a lower level. In the case of Azeez, that's exactly what he's done.

The right-winger struggled to make an impact in the Championship previously, recording two goals and zero assists in 13 appearances in 2021/22, whilst making 20 appearances with zero goals and two assists during the 2022/23 season.

Azeez then stayed with the club who'd handed him his first opportunity at professional level for the 2023/24 season, having been plucked by the Royals from then National League North & South side Wealdstone in 2019.

That would prove to be a very wise decision by Azeez, as he emerged as one of the best wingers in League One last season, with his performances catching the eye of numerous Championship clubs.

It wasn't just the attacking aspect of his game that turned heads, Azeez evidenced a defensive side of his game that displayed the all-round player he is, and the complete article he can become.

Indeed, his 208 recoveries and the 37 times he won possession in the final third placed him in the top 98.1 percentile of League One right-wingers last season, whilst his 48 tackles won ranked him in the top 95.4 percentile - per FotMob.

Yet in that attacking department of Azeez's game, his quality shone through too. His 51 successful dribbles placed him in the top 92.6 percentile of third tier right-wingers in 2023/24, whilst his 71 chances created ranked him in the top 97.2 percentile - per FotMob.

As such, his stellar 2023/24 season with Reading has seen him fully deserve another chance at Championship level, and now that he returns to the second tier two years later as a much more well-rounded and refined talent, he could be one of the shrewdest signings of the summer transfer window by Millwall.