Millwall FC's £750k agreement with Reading FC promised much but delivered little | OneFootball

Millwall spent a reported £750,000 on Reading's Jon Dadi Bodvarsson in 2019. While the signing promised much, it ended up delivering little.

When Millwall shelled out a reported £750,000 to sign Jon Dadi Bodvarsson from Reading in the summer of 2019, the Icelandic striker was seen as a smart addition.

A proven forward in the EFL, a hard-working international, and still only 27 at the time, it looked like a move that could quietly pay dividends for the reported fee.

From Wolves to Reading - Bodvarsson's solid pedigree

Bodvarsson had already built a decent CV before heading to the Den. He arrived in the Championship in 2016, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers from German outfit Kaiserslautern. He showed flashes of quality despite a modest goal return.

His fantastic goals in the opening matches of the campaign against Rotherham and Birmingham provided great memories from an underwhelming campaign featuring three managers at the helm.

However, his hard-working style of play and overall personality saw the Icelandic forward move on to Reading, where he saw better form with 16 goals in 56 appearances, suggesting that he could be a reliable option at this level.

He wasn't the flashiest striker around, but he grafted and earned respect among supporters.

Millwall's £750k gamble on Bodvarsson

When the Lions moved to bring him in ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, it made a lot of sense on paper.

At 27, Bodvarsson arrived alongside Matt Smith, who signed from QPR in the same window. The club were looking for solid, steady Championship talent to improve on a 21st-place finish in the 2018/19 campaign.

And while the improvement did come, with the Lions finishing in eighth under Gary Rowett, Bodvarsson failed to match the numbers achieved by fellow summer arrival Smith, and Tom Bradshaw, who netted 13 and eight, respectively. The Iceland international managed just four goals across 31 Championship appearances.

Across two and a half seasons at The Den, Bodvarsson made 76 appearances and scored just seven times. He never really nailed down a consistent run in the starting XI, and when he did feature, he struggled to leave a lasting impression.

His work rate couldn't be faulted, but as the club aimed to solidify themselves in and amongst the play-off race, Bodvarsson rarely looked like the answer.

Frustratingly for supporters, it wasn't a lack of effort, just a clear case of a player who was unable to find his rhythm in a Millwall shirt.

Bodvarsson's life after The Den

Making a move to Bolton Wanderers in January 2022, Bodvarsson made a bright start to life at the club, scoring seven goals in his first 21 League One appearances.

For a moment, it looked like he had found his level, and a fresh start that might reignite his career.

But that form quickly faded. Injuries disrupted his momentum throughout the 2022/23 campaign, limiting his impact and minutes.

In 2023/24, he featured more regularly, making 36 league appearances, but just 11 of those were starts. He scored four goals that season and often played a supporting role from the bench.

Despite some useful contributions, it became clear his best days were behind him. He left Bolton at the end of the 2023/24 season upon the expiry of his contract.

After a short spell with Wrexham, the 33-year-old forward was snapped up by Burton Albion in January following his release, where he has since found the back of the net five times across 13 appearances.

Bodvarsson's time at Millwall, though, goes down as one of missed potential, with the Icelandic forward never really making the expected impact.

Despite his slow fade at Bolton, his post-Millwall career has reinforced the idea that there has always been a solid forward in Bodvarsson. However, much more was anticipated following his relative success in a difficult period for Reading.

A signing that promised plenty at the Den, but ultimately, delivered very little.