The 2025–26 season is the 137th season in the history of Bolton Wanderers Football Club and their fifth consecutive season in League One. In addition to the domestic league, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.
Like previous seasons, Bolton's home kit was decided by a fan vote. The choices were between Abstract, Map, Graphic, and HerringbonePick Our Home Kit – 2025/26! with Abstract winning.Our Story. Your Colours. | Wanderers Launch 2025/26 Men's & Women's Macron Home Kits The away kit is a modernised version of the away kit from the 2005–06 season, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bolton's first ever season in the UEFA Cup.Past Glories. Future Stories. | Wanderers Unveil 2025/26 Macron Away Kits
Squad First team
Bolton B squad
Out on loan
Transfers In DatePos.PlayerFromFeeRef. 12 June 2025 CM Xavier Simons Hull City Undisclosed 13 June 2025 RW Charlie Warren Felixstowe & Walton United Undisclosed 1 July 2025 CF Sam Dalby Wrexham Free 1 July 2025 LB Richard Taylor St Mirren 4 July 2025 LW Thierry Gale Rapid Wien Undisclosed 22 July 2025 GK Nathan Broome Swansea City Free 25 July 2025 CM Ethan Erhahon Lincoln City Undisclosed 13 August 2025 GK Tyler Miller Notts County Free 1 September 2025 RB Cyrus Christie Swansea City 6 January 2026 CB Lewis Temple Shelbourne Undisclosed 14 January 2026 GK Jack Bonham Stoke City 15 January 2026 GK David Harrington Fleetwood Town 30 January 2026 CM Rúben Rodrigues Vitória Free
Out DatePos.PlayerToFeeRef. 19 June 2025 CF Aaron Collins Milton Keynes Dons Undisclosed 6 July 2025 GK Luke Southwood Bristol Rovers Undisclosed 21 July 2025 CM George Thomason Wrexham Undisclosed 1 August 2025 AM Klaidi Lolos Peterborough United Undisclosed 1 September 2025 CF Dan Nlundulu St Mirren Mutual Consent 2 January 2026 AM Dubem Eze Sutton United Undisclosed 8 January 2026 CB Will Forrester Leyton Orient 9 January 2026 CF Victor Adeboyejo Mansfield Town 15 January 2026 RB Josh Dacres-Cogley Stockport County 20 January 2026 GK Tyler Miller Charlotte FC 29 January 2026 CM Aaron Morley Wycombe Wanderers Undisclosed
Loaned in DatePos.PlayerFromDate untilRef. 20 June 2025 GK Teddy Sharman-Lowe Chelsea 14 January 2026 5 July 2025 RW Amario Cozier-Duberry Brighton & Hove Albion 31 May 2026 28 July 2025 CF Mason Burstow Hull City 31 May 2026 13 August 2025 LW Ibrahim Cissoko Toulouse 31 May 2026 1 September 2025 CF Marcus Forss Middlesbrough 31 May 2026 27 January 2026 LW Corey Blackett-Taylor Derby County 31 May 2026 28 January 2026 RW Rob Apter Charlton Athletic 31 May 2026 2 February 2026 CF Johnny Kenny Celtic 31 May 2026
Loaned out DatePos.PlayerToDate untilRef. 30 June 2025 AM Dubem Eze Scunthorpe United 2 January 2026 4 July 2025 LB Ajay Weston FC United of Manchester 31 May 2026 15 July 2025 GK Luke Hutchinson Altrincham 31 May 2026 1 September 2025 LM Szabolcs Schön Győr LW Carlos Mendes Gomes Exeter City 8 September 2025 GK Jack Dallimore Atherton Collieries 3 January 2026 CF Mark Isong Warrington Town 1 December 2026 18 October 2025 CB Oliver Smith FC Halifax Town 18 November 2025 30 October 2025 CB Sam Inwood Aldershot Town 31 May 2026 21 November 2025 CM Sonny Sharples-Ahmed Torquay United 3 January 2026 29 November 2025 GK Nathan Broome Rochdale 2 December 2025 CF Daeshon Lawrence FC United of Manchester 30 December 2025 6 December 2025 GK Luke Lomax Atherton Collieries 3 January 2026 CF Mark Isong 19 December 2025 RW Charlie Warren Aldershot Town 31 May 2026 CM Harley Irwin Stafford Rangers 17 January 2026 19 January 2026 AM Joel Randall Blackpool 31 May 2026 26 January 2026 CM Sonny Sharples-Ahmed Spennymoor Town 1 March 2026 30 January 2026 CF David Abimbola Accrington Stanley 31 May 2026
Released / Out of Contract DatePos.PlayerSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.30 June 2025 GK Nathan Baxter Watford 1 July 2025 RB Gethin Jones Milton Keynes Dons 1 July 2025 CB Ricardo Santos Swansea City 1 July 2025 CF Ben Andreucci Cleethorpes Town 5 July 2025 RB Luke Matheson Macclesfield 26 July 2025 LW Trevon Bryan NK NAŠK 28 August 2025 GK Joel Coleman Millwall 28 August 2025 GK Ellis Litherland Huddersfield Town 6 September 2025 AM Harrison Fleury West Didsbury & Chorlton 26 September 2025 CF Yestin Shakespear Abbey Hey 1 November 2025 CB Noah Halford Clitheroe 4 November 2025 CB Joseph Toole Fleetwood Town RM James Westwood
New Contract DatePos.PlayerEnd dateRef.7 May 2025 LB Max Conway 30 June 2026 GK Jack Dallimore CB Sean Hogan CM Sonny Sharples-Ahmed 17 June 2025 GK Luke Hutchinson 30 June 2027 1 July 2025 CF David Abimbola Undisclosed RB Jamie Grayson CM Harley Irwin CF Daeshon Lawrence CM Harry Leigh AM Conor Lewis CB Emile Oliver LM Harrison Rice CB Oliver Smith 9 September 2025 CB Sam Inwood 30 June 2028 CM Sonny Sharples-Ahmed 30 June 2027 20 October 2025 LB Max Conway 30 June 2029 26 January 2026 AM Toby Ritchie 30 June 2029 27 January 2026 CF David Abimbola 30 June 2027 20 February 2026 CM Josh Sheehan 30 June 2028 24 March 2026 GK Luke Lomax Undisclosed CM Jack Mawditt CB Sam O'Neill
Pre-season and friendlies On 20 May, Bolton Wanderers announced their first two pre-season friendlies, against Barrow and Shrewsbury Town. On 4 June, another fixture was announced against Hibernian. On 6 June, the club confirmed their final pre-season fixture of the schedule would be played at home to Preston North End. On 17 June, the club confirmed that a fixture against Orlando Pirates would take place during the club's training camp in Spain. On 30 June, fixtures were announced for the B-Team, against Atherton Collieries and Longridge Town.
Competitions Overall record
League One
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On 26 June, the League One fixtures were announced. It sees Bolton open their campaign on 3 August away at Stockport County, with the regular season concluding on 2 May at home to Luton Town.
Play-offs
Bolton Wanderers finished 5th in the regular 2025–26 EFL League One season and, as a result, were drawn against 4th placed Bradford City in the Play-off Semi Final. The first leg took place at Toughsheet Community Stadium and the second leg took place at Valley Parade. They won both legs, advancing 2-0 on aggregate to face fellow Greater Manchester side Stockport County in the final for promotion to the EFL Championship.
FA Cup
Bolton were drawn at home to Huddersfield Town in the first round. In the second round, Bolton were drawn away to Swindon Town.
EFL Cup
On 26 June, the draw for the first round was made, with Bolton being draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
EFL Trophy
In the group stage, Bolton were drawn into Northern Group E alongside Rotherham United, Oldham Athletic and Manchester City U21s. After advancing to the knockout stage, Bolton were drawn at home to Bradford City in the Round of 32. In the Round of 16, they were drawn at home Port Vale.
Group stage
Knockout stage
Statistics Appearances and goals
Players with no appearances are not included on the list; italics indicate loaned in player
|colspan="16"|Players who featured but departed the club permanently during the season:
|colspan="16"|Players who featured but departed the club on loan during the season:
Goals record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Play-Offs Total110CFSam Dalby 11002114248CFMason Burstow 12000012319RWAmario Cozier-Duberry 8010110411LWThierry Gale 5011075=9 CFJohnny Kenny 60000620LWIbrahim Cissoko 310206724CFMarcus Forss 2003058=14RBJordi Osei-Tutu 20110427CMRúben Rodrigues 20002445CFJohn McAtee 20020411=8 CMJosh Sheehan 30000318CBEoin Toal 30000322CMKyle Dempsey 30000314=4 CMXavier Simons 10001235LWCorey Blackett-Taylor 20000216=3 CBChris Forino-Joseph 1000015 LBRichard Taylor 0100016 CBGeorge Johnston 10000116CMAaron Morley 00010117AMJoel Randall 10000154AMToby Ritchie 000101Own Goals 200013Total 702313694
Disciplinary record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Play-Offs Total 18 CMJosh Sheehan 100000000000000010002=3 CBChris Forino-Joseph 7000001001000009006 CBGeorge Johnston 90000000000000090014RBJordi Osei-Tutu 601000000000000601511LWThierry Gale 3000000001010004016=20LWIbrahim Cissoko 40000000000010050022CMKyle Dempsey 40000000010000050045CFJohn McAtee 2010000000000002019=4 CMXavier Simons 21000000000000021021CMEthan Erhahon 40000000000000040011=2 RBJosh Dacres-Cogley 2000000001000003005 LBRichard Taylor 1001000001000003009 CFJohnny Kenny 30000000000000030010CFSam Dalby 20000000010000030025LBMax Conway 30000000000000030029RBCyrus Christie 20000000010000030032CBSam Inwood 00000000100000000148CFMason Burstow 30000000000000030019=18CBEoin Toal 20000000000000020024CFMarcus Forss 10000000010000020021=1 GKTeddy Sharman-Lowe 10000000000000010016CMAaron Morley 10000000000000010019RWAmario Cozier-Duberry 10000000000000010027CMRúben Rodrigues 10000000000000010035LWCorey Blackett-Taylor 100000000000000100Total 75121001018011008614
References