Millwall Interested As Celtic Open To Selling 23-Year-Old: Right Choice?

Millwall Interested As Celtic Open To Selling 23-Year-Old: Right Choice?

The writing has been on the wall at Parkhead for some time. Celtic are ready to listen to offers for Johnny Kenny this summer, with Millwall positioning themselves at the front of the queue. Sky Sports, via The72, confirmed that the Scottish champions won’t stand in the striker’s way if a decent bid comes in. Alex Neil wants the 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international at The Den, convinced he can hit the ground running straight away in the Championship.

Millwall are interested as Celtic prepare to sell Johnny Kenny

The signing of Colombian attacker Camilo Duran from Qarabag effectively sealed Kenny’s fate. Celtic originally paid Sligo Rovers £140,000 for the forward back in January 2022. Alan Nixon reports via his Patreon that a figure around £850,000 should get the deal done now. That represents a tidy profit on a player who never quite nailed down a starting spot.

Millwall aren’t alone in their chase. Bolton Wanderers want him back permanently after his impressive loan spell last term. Kenny clicked quickly under Steven Schumacher, bagging six goals in 14 matches to help push Bolton towards promotion from League One before a knee issue cut his campaign short.

Add those figures to his Celtic return, and he managed 12 goals and two assists across 36 total games in 2025/26. Four of those goals came in 22 Scottish Premiership matches for Celtic. Respectable enough for a squad member. Not enough to demand a starting shirt under Martin O’Neill. Publicly, O’Neill has noted that no final decision has been made on the Irishman’s long-term future. Behind the scenes, sources suggest breaking into the first team this summer looks like a mountain too steep to climb.

T4O take: Why selling makes sense for everyone

Taking £850,000 for a squad player isn’t defeatist. It is basic business. Celtic get a clean exit, pocket a profit, and free up space on the wage bill for O’Neill to reinvest where it matters. Kenny gets the chance to kickstart his career somewhere he will actually play week in, week out.

His spell at Bolton proved he can score when given trust and regular minutes. Lower down, where there is room to run behind defenders and teams play a more direct brand of football, he looks dangerous. Celtic operate under different rules. Domestically, teams sit deep against them. In Europe, the game moves fast. That requires a level of intensity and tactical sharpness Kenny hasn’t consistently shown in Glasgow.

Choosing between The Den and the Toughsheet

LIVINGSTON, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 27: Johnny Kenny of Celtic arriving at the ground ahead of kick off in the William Hill Premiership match between Livingston and Celtic at Set Fare Arena on December 27, 2025 in Livingston, United Kingdom. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Where Kenny ends up will depend on what he values most right now. Bolton offer comfort and familiarity. He knows the setup, he knows Schumacher, and he knows he can score goals in that side.

Millwall offer a different test altogether. Moving to London to join an established Championship outfit under Alex Neil is a proper step up. Neil is a manager who knows the division inside out and clearly sees a direct role for him in South London. If Kenny wants to prove he belongs at Championship level, taking the shirt at The Den looks like the smarter footballing decision. Celtic just need to take the money and move on.

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