Millwall boss Alex Neil has clarified the absence of January arrival Benicio Baker-Boaitey, who has not featured since his under-21s debut over a month ago.
The 21-year-old winger, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion in early February, has been sidelined with a complex injury and is now edging closer to a return to training.
Injury Setback Delays Millwall Integration
Baker-Boaitey made a swift start to life at The Den, featuring for Millwall’s under-21s just days after joining, in a match against Cardiff City on 7 February. However, supporters were left puzzled by his sudden disappearance from matchday squads.
Neil has now revealed the full extent of the issue, confirming the winger has been recovering from pubic symphysis — an overload injury affecting the pubic bone that has impacted the player’s sprinting ability.
“He’s in a very similar situation to Ajay [Matthews] in the fact that we just need to build his body up,” Neil said. “He came in, did a few sessions, didn’t look quite right.
“There’s an injury called pubic symphysis which is like an overload injury in the pubic bone. Then what ends up happening is he can’t sprint beyond 85 per cent and I was saying, this is not quite right.
“So we removed him from training, we need to settle that right down, need to strengthen his core up, because you need to build his sprinting, especially with a high impact player. So hopefully he should be getting re-introduced soon. He’ll come through that under-21s program, to make sure we build him up so he’s ready.”
The winger’s physical recovery is being carefully managed, with the club taking a gradual approach to ensure he returns at full capacity. Baker-Boaitey is expected to be eased back through the under-21s side before being considered for senior action.
Promising Career With Setbacks Along the Way
Baker-Boaitey’s career trajectory has been anything but linear. After coming through the ranks at West Ham United, he rejected a professional contract at 16 to join FC Porto in 2020. He later moved to Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2022, where he impressed enough to earn a permanent move and multiple contract extensions.
During the 2022–23 season, he played regularly for Brighton’s under-21s and made his Premier League debut under Roberto De Zerbi in December 2023. Despite some bright moments — including a penalty goal in the Sussex Community Shield and six senior appearances — a pelvic injury cut short his loan at Port Vale in 2024. He returned to Brighton in January 2025 before sealing a permanent move to Millwall soon after.
Writer’s View
Benicio Baker-Boaitey’s injury may have delayed his Millwall breakthrough, but the patience shown by Alex Neil suggests the club is playing the long game. His raw pace and attacking flair could prove invaluable once fit, especially for a side keen to inject creativity out wide. Supporters should remain optimistic — if his body holds up, Baker-Boaitey might soon offer exactly what Millwall have been missing.
