Millwall narrowly missed out on a place in the Premier League after falling just short of promotion last season, finishing one point behind Ipswich Town in 2nd and falling to Hull City in the play-off semi-final, as Alex Neil prepares his squad to return with a vengeance.
Indeed, it was so close, yet so far, for Millwall, who missed out on promotion last time around in agonising fashion, but are not messing around this summer as they look to go one better 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, whilst former Bristol City midfielder Mark Sykes joins on a free transfer.
The likes of Billy Michell, Danny McNamara, Joe Bryan, and Massimo Luongo have left the club following the expiry of their deals in SE16, and have since been followed out of The Den by Wes Harding, Macaulay Langstaff, and Barry Bannan.
Bannan returns to Sheffield Wednesday after a six-month stay in the capital, with the Scottish midfielder's short stay coming to a predictable end, as the 36-year-old has since sent a message to the club following his departure.
Barry Bannan sends a message to Millwall after completing Sheffield Wednesday return
Barry Bannan, MillwallAction images
Bannan, prior to his move to Southwark, made 477 appearances, scored 37 goals and grabbed a further 75 assists across ten-and-a-half years with Wednesday, and his exit in January 2026 was purely down to financial complications rather than his own personal choice.
Now, as he returns to South Yorkshire, Millwall confirmed his departure in a blunt two-line statement on their website, reflecting his less-than-impactful time with the club.
The Scot made 16 league appearances for the Lions, including in the play-offs, assisting once, as Neil used him as a rotation option to see out games rather than from the get-go.
He had signed an 18-month deal upon his move to the Lions, but now, those terms have been cut short, as Bannan has since taken to social media to send a message to the club.
Barry Bannan Instagram post to MillwallAction image
His message to Millwall is equally, if not shorter than, the one the Lions posted for him, with the player and club having never developed a serious connection during his stay.
There was always the lingering notion that Bannan would jump at the chance to return to Wednesday if the offer arrived, and now, he has secured a one-year deal back at Hillsborough, where he will hope to help the club return to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Upon his return to the club, Bannan said: "This club means so much to me and my family so to have the opportunity to come back, I didn’t have to think twice about it. I’m just delighted and I can’t wait to get going again.
"I always had it in my mind I would be coming back to Wednesday in some capacity so to get this done now is brilliant. There’s a lot of optimism and excitement around the place – we are on the up.
"We know what this season requires – a lot of hard work and togetherness with everyone fighting for each other, everyone on the same page. Obviously, I know everyone from last season and the new lads already seem at home, so there’s a lot to look forward to and I’m just so pleased to be back part of it."
Championship Xmas Day Prediction - Featured Image Related
How AI thinks the 2026/27 EFL Championship table will look on Christmas Day
The Championship could be in for yet another season of unpredictability
His adoration for Wednesday has never wavered, and that has been reciprocated by Owls supporters, who, on the whole, are more than pleased to see him back in blue and white.
As for Millwall, Bannan won't be a huge loss, as the Lions prepare for another year of fighting in the upper echelons of the Championship, where they will be hoping to go one better next time around.
What do you make of Barry Bannan's return to Sheffield Wednesday? Will he be a big miss at Millwall, or will the club be just fine without him? Share your thoughts below!
Alex Neil, MillwallAction images
With Bannan officially having left the club, it's doubtful that his departure will be felt too much around The Den.
Although his experience and quality would have had an effect, given there was always the sense that the Scot's time at the club wouldn't last, the fans never really took to him, nor did he to the fans.
With Mitchell having followed him out of the exit door, a deeper-lying midfielder ought to be a priority for Neil this window.
The Lions will have ambitions of breaking into the play-offs once more, or even going one better for automatics, as Neil continues to stamp his authority in Southwark with the hopes of ending Millwall's 36-year absence from the top flight.