Ex Bolton Wanderers players who are currently free agents

Clubs can still scan down the list of free agents to boost their squad over the coming months, and among them are several players who will be well-known to Wanderers fans.

We decided to take a look at some of the ex-Bolton stars who are currently out-of-contract and see what they have been up to since leaving the club.

Sammy Ameobi was a big part of Phil Parkinson's promotion-winning side in 2016/17 (Image: PA)

SAMMY AMEOBI

Played 91 times for Bolton Wanderers and supplied 12 goals across three seasons, helping them to promotion in 2016/17 and then an unlikely survival a year after that. Struggled under the weight of financial issues in his final year and cancelled the last year of his contract before moving to Nottingham Forest.

Left Middlesbrough in the summer of 2022 after a knee injury had prevented him from playing a single game for the club and at the age of 31 has been without a club for the last 12 months.

Kean Bryan was described as a 'Rolls Royce' by Keith Hill (Image: Camerasport)

KEAN BRYAN

Played six times on loan for Wanderers and was described as a “Rolls Royce” by then-manager Keith Hill – Bryan went on to play Premier League football with Sheffield United before moving on to West Brom in the summer of 2021.

A bad knee injury severely hampered his chances with the Baggies and he was released this summer having only played got them three times.

Gary Madine's goals at Wanderers earned him a £6m move to Cardiff (Image: PA)

GARY MADINE

Became a cult hero on the terraces with Bolton after scoring 26 goals in 107 games for the club and enjoying particular success as the target man for Phil Parkinson’s attack. That form earned him a £6million move to Cardiff City and eventually led to Premier League football.

A loan spell at Sheffield United was followed by three seasons at Blackpool but last season a serious cruciate ligament injury left him out of action until 2024.

At 33, he is now looking for a new club.

LIAM BRIDCUTT

Played a dozen times for Wanderers during a loan from Nottingham Forest in 2019/20 and briefly captained the club – but ended the deal in January to link-up briefly with Lincoln before lockdown.

That led to a permanent move and the midfielder spent two-and-a-half years with the Imps before linking up with his former manager Michael Appleton at Blackpool.

Bridcutt featured just four times last season as the Tangerines were relegated from the Championship, and he is now looking for a new club at 34.

YANIC WILDSCHUT

After scoring a winner at West Brom in his second game much was expected of the winger, who had joined on loan from Norwich in 2017/18 – but injuries and inconsistency meant he enjoyed few other highlights.

Wildschut has walked an adventurous path ever since, playing in Israel at Maccabi Haifa, Bulgaria for CSKA Sofia and earning international caps for Surinam. He signed for Oxford United last season but terminated his contract a few weeks ago to enable him to find a new club.

LLOYD ISGROVE

Released by Wanderers after two-and-a-half years with the club, the popular midfielder has seen his last two campaigns ravaged by injury.

Isgrove made 64 appearances in all competitions for the Whites, and was a major figure in their promotion to League One, but hamstring issues meant he could only play a bit part in recent times.

Kieran Lee was released by Bolton in the summer (Image: Camerasport)

KIERAN LEE

Often cited as Ian Evatt’s best signing at Wanderers, the former Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder was certainly a class act in his three seasons with Bolton.

Lee turned 35 in the summer and we are yet to learn if he is looking to extend his playing career.

JONATHAN GROUNDS

Did not have an especially successful loan spell at Bolton in 2018/19 but the former Middlesbrough full-back has more than 450 career appearances and was playing regularly at Exeter City in League One last season.

Grounds left the Grecians this summer and is now a free agent at the age of 35.

Joe Dodoo is looking for his 12th professional club (Image: PA)

JOE DODOO

Spent one season with Bolton in 2019/20, scoring four goals in his 27 appearances, and has since played in Turkey along with brief spells at Wigan, Doncaster and Burton.

The former Leicester City and Rangers striker has gone public in his search for an 11th professional club, posting clips of his training routines of social media.

Earlier this year he told The Athletic: “There are opportunities. I am just waiting to see what is the best fit for me and the way I play, and the right environment for me.

“I just need to polish up on a few things. I have had a pretty solid career so far. It’s been good.

“There has been a lot of adversity, a lot of issues. Covid-19 was a big problem for me as I was due to come back to a pretty good level and that messed up a lot of things.”

JOSH EMMANUEL

One of a dozen deadline day signings made by Keith Hill and David Flitcroft at the start of the 2019/20 season – the full-back also proved one of the more successful, making 31 appearances.

Emmanuel left Wanderers after one season to sign for Hull City but suffered a mystery illness which led to his release after their promotion to the Championship.

The defender collapsed during a training session and was unable to move the left side of his body or talk properly. After 18 months out he was medically cleared to resume his career with Grimsby Town but left the club in the summer after one season.

Oscar Threlkeld came through the ranks at Bolton (Image: NQNW)

OSCAR THRELKELD

Homegrown defender who played 11 games before his release at the end of the 2015/16 season, Threlkeld has built a steady career since his Wanderers exit.

Featuring for Plymouth Argyle, Bradford City and Salford City, the 29-year-old has recently been on trial with Morecambe.

Former striker Nathan Delfouneso is looking for a new club (Image: Camerasport)

NATHAN DELFOUNESO

Delfouneso spent two seasons with Wanderers, scoring 10 goals in his 67 appearances for the club.

Since leaving in the summer of 2022 the former Aston Villa and Blackpool striker has turned out for Accrington Stanley, AFC Fylde and Alfreton Town but is now looking for a new club at the age of 32.

RHYS BENNETT

Came through the ranks at Bolton but did not make a first team appearance, Bennett has since racked up more than 350 career appearances.

He has featured for Rochdale, Mansfield, Peterborough, Carlisle, Gillingham and Morecambe – and last season had a second spell at Spotland.