WANDERERS have confirmed the release of four first team stars at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Ricardo Santos, Gethin Jones, Nathan Baxter and Joel Coleman will not be given a new deal at the Toughsheet Stadium as Steven Schumacher begins his rebuilding job at the club.
Santos has made 207 appearances for the club, scoring six times, since signing in the summer of 2020 and captained the team under previous boss Ian Evatt.
The big defender was voted into the PFA League One and League Two team of the year on four occasions and won Wanderers’ player of the year in their promotion-winning 2020/21 campaign.
Jones made 188 appearances and scored eight times, earning international recognition from Australia and serving as vice captain since January 2022.
Former Chelsea stopper Baxter leaves the club after two seasons, in which he racked up 64 appearances in all competitions, including the League One play-off final.
And Coleman, who also signed in the summer of 2023, will depart this summer having represented his hometown club on 19 occasions.
"Decisions like these are always difficult, particularly with players like Geth and Rico who have given so much to Bolton Wanderers over the years,” said Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher. “They were central figures in the promotion from League Two and the EFL Trophy success at Wembley and have conducted themselves with great professionalism throughout their time here.
“Their seniority was important for the group and they have been fantastic for me since my arrival. On behalf of everyone at the club, I thank them for their considerable efforts and wish them both the very best in their future careers, along with all the other players leaving the club this summer.”
Wanderers have announced that loan players Kion Etete, Jay Matete and Alex Murphy have returned to their parent clubs – Cardiff City, Sunderland and Newcastle United, respectively.
Options have been taken up on young professionals Max Conway, Sonny Sharples-Ahmed, Jack Dallimore and Sean Hogan, with Luke Hutchinson also offered a new deal to remain with the club after making his professional debut this season.
Nine players have been released from the B Team squad, including wing-back Luke Matheson, who has recently been on loan with Alfreton Town.
The former Rochdale and Wolves defender had made seven first team appearances, scoring once, since signing in September 2023.
Ben Andreucci, Trevon Bryan, Harrison Fleury, Noah Halford, Ellis Litherland-Riding, Joseph Toole, Yestin Shakespear and James Westwood have also been released.
Seven of Wanderers’ double-winning Youth Team squad have been offered their first professional deals, with defender Oliver Smith and striker David Abimbola – who finished the season with four first-team appearances – already securing their futures at the club.
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