10 former Bolton Wanderers players who are currently available as free agents

Gary Cahill

Cahill joined Wanderers from Aston Villa in January 2008 and went on to make 147 appearances for the club.

The defender left the North West in January 2012 to join Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles and also enjoying success in Europe during his time at Stamford Bridge.

He is currently a free agent after he was released by Bournemouth at the end of his contract following their promotion back to the Premier League.

Daniel Sturridge

Sturridge arrived at the UniBol on loan from Chelsea back in 2011 and scored eight goals in 12 appearances for the club.

The forward went on to have a memorable spell at Liverpool, finding the net 21 times as the Reds finished second in 2013/14, and also had stints at West Brom and Turkish side Trabzonspor.

He is now searching for a club after being released by Perth Glory, having made just one start for the Australian club as his back luck with injuries continued.

Jack Wilshere

Wilshere is another player who spent time on loan at Wanderers during the Premier League days.

The midfielder went on to have a successful career at Arsenal, winning the FA Cup twice, but was also impacted by injuries.

He is currently without a club following a short spell at Aarhus, making 10 appearances for the Danish outfit. 

Luca Connell

Connell joined the Whites’ youth ranks at the Under-9s age group and broke into the first team picture under Phil Parkinson.

The midfielder’s performances in the Championship saw him prized away by Celtic for a paltry fee in 2019 but he has now been released by the Scottish champions after spending the past couple of seasons on loan at Queen’s Park.

Connell has recently been linked with a move to Fleetwood to reunite with former Celtic team-mate Scott Brown.

Harry Brockbank

Brockbank, who captained the ‘Junior Whites’ against Coventry, left Wanderers back in January to pursue an opportunity in the United States with El Paso Locomotive.

However, he left the club by mutual consent after just three months in Texas and is now searching for a new team in England.

Brockbank told The Bolton News: “I think I jumped the gun a bit too early going out there… I had another year on my contract with Bolton and maybe I should have stayed on, but I don’t look back with any regret.”

Jake Turner

Turner joined the Whites at the age of 14 and spent time as first-team understudy to Ben Alnwick and Mark Howard in the Championship.

The goalkeeper left to join Newcastle in 2019 amid Wanderers’ administration problems and went on to have loan spells at Morecambe and more recently Colchester.

He is now a free agent after being released by the Magpies at the end of his contract and told The Bolton News: “I think at this stage of my career I want to be playing as many games as I can… be that League Two, League One, Championship.”

Alex Baptiste

Baptiste returned to Bolton for a second spell in 2020 and played an important role as Ian Evatt's men won promotion from League Two.

Opportunities were hard to come by at times last season but the defender still had a big impact on the dressing room.

He is keen to continue his playing career elsewhere after turning down the chance to join the coaching set-up at Wanderers.

Luke Murphy

Murphy arrived at the UniBol in the summer of 2018 and went on to make 45 appearances for the club, scoring twice.

The midfielder returned to former club Crewe two years later but was released at the end of his contract following the Railwaymen’s relegation from League One.

Murphy is now searching for a new club and Crewe assistant boss Lee Bell admitted it was a “really tough” decision to let him go.

Will Jaaskelainen

Jaaskelainen, the son of Bolton legend Jussi Jaaskelainen, spent several years in the Whites’ youth ranks prior to his release in 2017.

The goalkeeper then headed to Crewe and broke into the first team in 2019/20 following loan spells with Nantwich and Chester.

However, he lost his place to Dave Richards last term and was later told he would not be offered fresh terms at the Mornflake Stadium.

Jamie Thomas

Thomas was tipped for big things at Wanderers but the move ultimately didn’t work out and he was released in 2016 following relegation from the Championship.

The forward then had spells at Burnley and in non-league before he was given a second chance at Preston North End.

However, Thomas made just one competitive appearance before he was loaned out to Halifax and is now a free agent.