Incoming Bolton manager Keith Hill has not wasted any time in making his mark at Wanderers with a flurry of deadline day signings to bolster the club’s young squad and hopes of staving off relegation.
New owners Football Ventures were quick to appoint Hill and the decision to do so seems to have paid dividends as the Wanderers fans welcomed in 9 (yes, NINE) new players to the University of Bolton Stadium.
The hectic day of transfers surely has to be one of Wanderers’ busiest in history but just who have Bolton signed?
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Thibaud Verlinden
Announced 12:44pm
Signed from: Stoke City | On loan
Thibaud Verlinden was the first man through the door today.
The tricky and direct Belgian winger looks to be a real coup for Wanderers and his departure from Stoke City was met with dismay from Potters fans, many of whom believe he should’ve been playing first-team football for the struggling Championship side.
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Liam Bridcutt
Announced 1:45pm
Signed from: Nottingham Forest | On loan
Another player rated highly by fans of his former club is Liam Bridcutt. The midfielder and former Scottish international signs on loan until January and has almost 200 appearances in the Championship and Premier League to his name after spells at Brighton, Sunderland, Leeds and, of course, Forest.
Will Buckley
Announced 2:29pm
Signed from: Free Agent
A player the whole Bolton fanbase will know well is Will Buckley. The midfielder joins Jack Hobbs in re-signing for the club after his previous contract expired in the summer. Hopefully, Buckley can have a more productive campaign in League One after a tricky season last time out.
Jake Wright
Announced 4:59pm
Signed from: Sheffield United | On loan
Jake Wright played in almost 30 matches in Sheffield United’s triumphant League One season in 2016/17, making him a superb addition to the squad. The defender, who has joined on loan until January, will no doubt slot into the back four alongside Jack Hobbs but will surely face competition from Yoan Zouma, Liam Edwards and Harry Brockbank for a spot in the team this season.
Ali Crawford
Announced 5:30pm
Signed from: Doncaster Rovers | Free Transfer
Ali Crawford joins Bolton on a free from Doncaster Rovers after the two parties agreed to terminate his contract in order to facilitate the move. The experienced midfielder has well over 300 professional appearances to his name as well as 41 goals from stints at Hamilton Academical and, of course, Doncaster Rovers.
Chris O’Grady
Announced 5:44pm
Signed from: Oldham Athletic | Free Transfer
Chris O’Grady will play for his 20th club when he takes to the field for Wanderers this season. The 33-year-old striker joins from Oldham Athletic and has racked up a remarkable 550 appearances over a 16-year career. O’Grady, who has averaged a goal every five games throughout his career will no doubt add an attacking threat Bolton have been lacking of late.
Josh Emmanuel
Announced 5:59pm
Signed from: Ipswich Town | Free Transfer
Josh Emmanuel’s free transfer from Ipswich Town came very much out of the blue today with the announcement coming shortly before 6pm. The full-back is actually the last player to score for Bolton in a league match as found his own net while playing for Ipswich in the final stages of last season.
Joe Bunney
Announced 6:10pm
Signed from: Northampton Town | Free Transfer
Joe Bunney reunites with Keith Hill after playing for Bolton’s new boss at Rochdale in the past. The 25-year-old left-back signed from Northampton Town on a free transfer after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract. Bunney’s arrival finally fills a left-back spot which has caused some serious trouble for Wanderers in recent weeks.
Daryl Murphy
Announced 6:23pm
Signed from: Nottingham Forest | Free Transfer
And finally, there was arguably the biggest signing of the day. Daryl Murphy joins Bolton on a free transfer from Nottingham Forest. Despite being 36-years-old, the experienced striker will no doubt be one of Bolton’s chief goal threats this season. Murphy boasts Premier League experience among his CV and even notched 27 goals for Ipswich Town in 2014/15.
Whether we’ll see a goal return like that remains to be seen, but the signing is definitely an impressive one and it’s almost certain that Wanderers’ ninth signing of deadline day will end up wearing the number nine shirt this season.
That caps off one of, if not the busiest transfer deadline day in Bolton history.
If ever there was a perfect way for a manager to introduce themselves to a football club, Keith Hill arriving with nine new deadline day signings under his belt is bound to get the Wanderers faithful excited.
It may look unlikely at the moment, but the nine new signings have surely got to give Wanderers at least a glimmer of hope that they can survive their battle against relegation this season.