Celtic attacker should snub Millwall and join Bolton Wanderers | OneFootball

Celtic attacker Johnny Kenny should opt to sign for Bolton Wanderers instead of Millwall this summer.

As the summer transfer window heats up with around a month to go until the 2026-27 EFL season gets underway, there are a few tussles going on across all three divisions and one of significance in the Championship, too.

Millwall missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of last season, having improved upon their season prior whereby they missed out on the top six and the play-off places on the final day.

Under the management of Alex Neil, The Lions have turned themselves into a team that will now be tipped up by many to again challenge for promotion next season, having been beaten by eventual play-off winners Hull City in the semi-finals in May.

Millwall have been impressive in their recruitment in recent seasons and any signing they make can often be viewed as a good one with an understanding that their homework has been done to a thorough degree.

Bolton Wanderers have ended a seven-year absence from the Championship by finally getting themselves over the line and achieving promotion from League One last season.

The Trotters hammered Stockport County by four goals to one in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium in May and now Steven Schumacher has a job on his hands to ensure they remain competitive in the second-tier.

One player that could not feature on that famous day down in the capital city for The Whites due to injury was Johnny Kenny, and Bolton now face competition from Millwall for his signing from Celtic – but Kenny should ensure he chooses a return to the Toughsheet Community Stadium instead of moving down to The Den.

Johnny Kenny may not get the regular minutes he needs at Millwall

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Having impressed for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland, as well as in the UEFA Europa Conference League, Johnny Kenny showed enough potential to warrant a move to Scottish giants Celtic.

A positive pre-season in the summer of 2025 saw The Bhoys keep hold of Kenny for the first half of last season, despite interest from Bolton throughout the transfer window.

Upheaval Celtic Park, with Brendan Rodgers leaving before the sacking of Wilfried Nancy, saw Kenny struggle for consistent minutes in Glasgow and many Celtic supporters were critical of his profligacy in front of goal.

Kenny found regular game time at Bolton and that massively benefitted him and his form – and that is something he may not be guaranteed if he chooses to move to Bermondsey.

Millwall play an effective but still reactive style of football that requires a lot of work from the striker under Alex Neil – and that is something that does suit Kenny.

However, he will surely find himself down the pecking order from the off with their key man remaining Serbia international striker Mihailo Ivanovic.

As well as Ivanovic, Millwall also boast the likes of Josh Coburn and youngsters Ajay Matthews and Zak Lovelace, while they have also signed forward Taiyrk Arconte from Ligue 2 outfit Rodez.

Scoring fewer goals than a Sheffield United side that finished in the bottom-half of the Championship table last season, a slightly more conservative approach may not get the best out of Kenny, especially with limited minutes.

Johnny Kenny would return to being the main man at Bolton

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Ahead of their play-off campaign, Johnny Kenny succumbed to a season-ending injury on the final day of the regular season against Luton Town.

Prior to that, having initially shown glimpses of his quality, Kenny had begun to establish himself as a key man for Steven Schumacher, forming an excellent partnership with Bolton’s eventual play-off final hero and Player of the Season, Sam Dalby.

Bolton had plenty of loanees in their squad, notably Amario Cozier-Duberry, but finding a striker that could score goals at a higher level has to be the priority ahead of anyone else – and Kenny could well be that man.

Kenny, with two caps for the Republic of Ireland, had begun to find the net regularly with Wanderers, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 14 appearances in the second half of the campaign; five of which came in five games before his injury against Luton.

Showcasing attributes of his game that he didn’t quite manage to at Parkhead with his ability to run with the ball and link-up the play, Schumacher and Bolton played to his strengths and allowed Kenny to rediscover the form that earned him a move to Scotland.

Should he choose to return to Bolton, he would be able to once again do that on a regular basis at Championship level, something he will not be guaranteed of at Millwall – both in terms of minutes played and the type of football being played.