Bolton Wanderers Kick Off 2026 with New Signing and Transfer Activity

As the new year unfolds, Bolton Wanderers are making headlines in League One with a mix of on-pitch resilience and off-pitch maneuvers. The club, aiming to climb the standings, has started January with a key acquisition and whispers of squad reshuffling, setting the stage for an intriguing transfer window.

In a boost to their defensive line, Bolton have secured the services of 20-year-old defender Lewis Temple from Irish side Shelbourne. The deal, for an undisclosed fee, sees Temple commit to a two-year contract at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Temple, who featured in 11 League of Ireland matches in 2025 and made three appearances in the Europa Conference League, expressed his enthusiasm about the move. He described joining Bolton as a dream come true for a young player from Ireland, eager to test himself in English football. His final outing for Shelbourne was a goalless draw against NK Celje, showcasing his potential in European competition. Manager Ian Evatt will hope Temple's arrival injects fresh energy into a backline that has shown promise but needs depth for the grueling season ahead.

On the pitch, Wanderers began their 2026 home fixtures with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Northampton Town on January 4. The match at the Toughsheet Stadium marked the conclusion of a challenging festive period for both teams. Despite creating several chances, Bolton couldn't find the breakthrough, with Northampton's defense holding firm. The result keeps Wanderers in contention for promotion spots, though fans will be calling for more clinical finishing in upcoming games. Team news highlighted the starting lineup, but the stalemate underscores the need for reinforcements, particularly in attack.

Transfer speculation is rife as Bolton look to trim their squad to accommodate new faces. With rules limiting the number of over-21 players, several could depart this month. Right-back Josh Dacres-Cogley has fallen out of favor, overtaken by Cyrus Christie and Jordi Osei-Tutu, and with his contract expiring in June, an early exit seems plausible. Midfielder Aaron Morley, despite a longer deal, has seen limited action amid competition from Josh Sheehan and others, attracting past interest from clubs like Luton Town.

Forward John McAtee's injury-hit campaign has restricted him to minimal minutes, potentially reopening doors to a Barnsley loan. Striker Victor Adeboyejo, sidelined by an ACL injury since February, has declared himself fully fit and ready for selection, but with his contract also up in June, interest from elsewhere lingers. Defender Will Forrester remains on the fringes, primarily featuring in cup ties, while left-back Richard Taylor might seek a loan for more playtime. Loanee Ibrahim Cissoko, with scant starts, could be deemed surplus if a new winger arrives.

Adding to the squad dynamics, attacking midfielder Dubem Eze has returned from his loan at Scunthorpe United, where he gained valuable experience. His reintegration could provide creative options for Evatt.

As Bolton navigate the January window, these developments signal a club in transition, balancing youth infusion with experienced departures. With promotion aspirations intact, the coming weeks will be pivotal in shaping their season. Fans remain optimistic, buoyed by the blend of emerging talent and tactical solidity displayed so far.

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Home of Bolton Wanderers FC

Opened 1997

Capacity 28,723

History (from Wikipedia)

University of Bolton Stadium is an all-seater stadium with a capacity of almost 29,000 and was completed in 1997, replacing the club's old ground, Burnden Park.

Burnden Park, which at its peak had held up to 60,000 spectators, was becoming increasingly dilapidated by the 1980s, and a section of terracing was sold off for redevelopment as a supermarket to help pay off the club's rising debts. Bolton Wanderers had dropped into the Third Division in 1983 and later spent a season in the Fourth Division. In January 1990, the Taylor Report required all clubs in the first and second tiers of the English league to have an all-seater stadium by the 1994-95 season. Bolton were still in the Third Division at this stage, but were aiming for promotion - which was finally achieved in 1993. By this stage, the club's owners had decided to relocate to a new all-seater stadium away from Burnden Park, and by 1995 had identified a location at Horwich as the preferred site of a new stadium.

The lead consultant/architect of the project was Lobb Sports, while local firm Bradshaw Gass & Hope acted as planning supervisors and quantity surveyors, the contractor was Birse Construction, and Deakin Callard & Partners provided structural engineering services. The value of the contract was £25 million (US$42.1 million).[7] The stadium is noted for its distinct gabled architecture, first pioneered by the John Smith's Stadium.

The stadium was opened in 1997 by John Prescott, a Labour Party politician who was the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time.[8]

The stadium consists of four stands: The Carrs Pasties (North) Stand at one end; the South Stand (Franking Sense and also the away end) at the other end; the West Stand at one side of the pitch; and the Nat Lofthouse (east) Stand at the other side.

When the stadium was named after long-time team sponsor Reebok in 1997, fans considered the title impersonal and believed that too much emphasis was being placed on financial considerations. This opposition considerably lessened after the stadium was built, as fans grew accustomed to the name and were bolstered by Reebok's status as a local company.[9]

The Macron title was applied in July 2014 after the Bolton Wanderers club finalised a partnership with the large Italian sportswear brand. In April 2014, long-serving club chairman Phil Gartside stated that he was "proud" to be associated with Macron and had "been very impressed with their [Macron's] passion for football". A four-year duration was negotiated for the Macron deal and the club had the option to extend at completion.[10]

When the deal with Macron came to an end in August 2018 the stadium was again renamed, this time as the University of Bolton Stadium.[11]

Things to do in Bolton.