Millwall nearly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season, finishing one point behind Ipswich Town in second place and losing to Hull City in the play-off semi-finals, as Alex Neil prepares his players to return with vengeance.

Indeed, it was so near, yet so distant for Millwall, who narrowly missed out on promotion the last time around, but are not wasting time this summer as they try to improve next year.

Tairyk Arconte has joined from French side Rodez for around €3 million (£2.6 million), Jenson Metcalfe (21) has joined from League One side Bradford City, Mathis Servais has signed from Belgian side Mechelen for around £3 million, and former Bristol City midfielder Mark Sykes has joined on a free transfer.

Billy Michell, Danny McNamara, Joe Bryan, and Massimo Luongo all left the club as their contracts expired in SE16, and Wes Harding, Macaulay Langstaff, and Barry Bannan have since followed suit.

Bannan returns to Sheffield Wednesday after a six-month sojourn in the city. The Scottish midfielder’s brief stay came to an unsurprising end, as the 36-year-old has subsequently issued a message to the club.

Barry Bannan sends a message to Millwall after completing the Sheffield Wednesday return.

Prior to his move to Southwark, Bannan made 477 appearances for Wednesday, scoring 37 goals and assisting 75 times in ten and a half years, and his departure in January 2026 was due to financial difficulties rather than his own personal decision.

As he returns to South Yorkshire, Millwall confirmed his departure in a two-line statement on their website, reflecting his underwhelming spell at the club.

The Scot made 16 league appearances for the Lions, including the play-offs, and assisted once, as Neil employed him as a rotation option to finish games rather than starting them.

He signed an 18-month contract when he joined the Lions, but those conditions have now been cut short, as Bannan has taken to social media to deliver a message to the club.

His message to Millwall is as brief, if not shorter, as the Lions’, despite the fact that the player and club have never built a genuine connection during his time there.

There was always the possibility that Bannan would jump at the chance to return to Wednesday if the opportunity arose, and he has now secured a one-year contract back at Hillsborough, where he will attempt to help the club return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Bannan said of his comeback to the club: “This club means so much to me and my family, so having the opportunity to come back, I didn’t think twice about it. “I’m overjoyed and eager to resume activities.”I always knew I’d be back on Wednesday in some manner, so getting this done now is wonderful. “There’s a lot of optimism and excitement around the place; we’re on the rise.”We understand what this season requires: a lot of hard effort and teamwork, with everyone working for each other and on the same page. Obviously, I know everyone from last season, and the new guys already seem to fit in, so there’s a lot to look forward to, and I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”

His love for Wednesday has never wavered, and it has been reciprocated by Owls fans, who are generally delighted to see him return in blue and white.

Bannan’s departure will not be a major loss for Millwall, as the Lions prepare for another year of battle in the Championship’s higher echelons, where they hope to improve next time.

Barry Bannan will not be a significant loss for Millwall as Alex Neil prepares his squad for another promotion drive.

Bannan’s official exit from the club is unlikely to make a significant impact at The Den.

Although his experience and quality would have had an impact, there was always the impression that the Scot’s tenure with the club would be short-lived, and the fans never took to him, nor did he to them.

Given Mitchell’s departure, Neil should prioritise a deeper-lying midfielder this window.

The Lions will be hoping to break into the play-offs again, or even go one better for automatic promotion, as Neil continues to stamp his dominance in Southwark with the goal of ending Millwall’s 36-year absence from the top flight.