In this article, we’ve examined the Bolton Wanderers players who are expected to depart on a free transfer this summer.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bolton Wanderers are striving for promotion to the Championship this season after narrowly missing out last year.
- Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Cameron Jerome are both set to leave the club as free agents this summer.
- Bodvarsson has struggled to secure a regular spot in the team and will need to impress to earn a new contract, while Jerome has primarily been used as a substitute and his future at the club is uncertain.
Bolton Wanderers remain committed to their goal of returning to the Championship by the conclusion of this season.
Bolton Wanderers fell just short of securing promotion to the Championship last season, losing out in the play-off semi-finals to Barnsley.
Although disappointing, this setback has motivated the club to strive for greater success this season. As favorites for promotion at the season’s outset, the Lancashire side is currently living up to expectations, contending for the title and automatic promotion.
Following the recent transfer window, the club has made several new signings aimed at bolstering their promotion prospects. However, amidst the focus on football, there are still contractual matters to address as some players approach the end of their contracts.
As things stand, two players from Ian Evatt’s team are scheduled to depart as free agents this summer.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson arrived at Bolton Wanderers in January 2022 as a free transfer from Millwall, having spent several seasons on the outskirts of the squad at his previous club.
Despite being an Icelandic international, Bodvarsson has found it challenging to secure a consistent starting position at Bolton. In his first two seasons with the club, he appeared in 21 League One matches, along with various cup competitions.
However, his prospects for the future became uncertain last season due to struggles with injuries, casting doubt on his continuation with the club beyond the campaign’s conclusion.
| Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s stats per division (As it stands February 6th, per Transfermarkt) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Championship | 164 | 21 | 11 |
| Tippeligaen | 81 | 15 | 18 |
| League One | 64 | 10 | 5 |
| Pepsideild | 43 | 10 | 0 |
| 1. Deild | 21 | 7 | 0 |
| 2. Bundesliga | 15 | 2 | 3 |
| Premier League 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
During the summer, the striker agreed to a fresh one-year deal with the club, resulting in his contract now concluding at the end of the current season.
This season, the 31-year-old has featured in 32 matches across all competitions for Bolton Wanderers, with 22 appearances in League One.
However, out of those 22 appearances, only four have been as a starter, with more starting opportunities in the EFL Trophy this season. Despite this, the former Millwall player has contributed six goals and three assists, all of which have come in cup competitions other than League One.
Bodvarsson aims to impress enough to secure a new contract with the club, particularly if they secure promotion to the Championship next season.
Cameron Jerome
Experienced striker Cameron Jerome joined Bolton during the January transfer window of 2023, signing an 18-month contract that expires at the end of this season.
There are no provisions for an automatic extension, meaning if Jerome wishes to continue with the Trotters beyond this season, both parties must negotiate new terms.
He was brought to the club to provide additional experience in the forward line and contribute to their promotion aspirations to the second tier.
During the previous season, the 37-year-old made 12 appearances for Bolton as they advanced to the playoffs, but he did not manage to score any goals.
In the current season, Jerome has featured in 25 matches for the Lancashire side, with 15 of those appearances occurring in League One, none of which were as a starter.
Throughout the season, the striker has only started three games, all of which were in the EFL Trophy and EFL Cup. His sole goal this season came against Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy.
The majority of Jerome’s appearances have been brief appearances off the bench. With the arrival of Aaron Collins at the club, Jerome’s opportunities may become even more limited.
Bolton’s intentions regarding Jerome’s future remain uncertain. However, if they wish to retain him, they will need to negotiate a new contract.
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