We take a look at the ups and downs from Dapo Afolayan’s time at Wanderers after the attacker completed a move to German club St Pauli.
Promotion glory
Afolayan couldn’t have picked a better time to score his first goal for Bolton, slotting home from close range during the memorable 4-1 win at Crawley on the final day of the 2020/21 season.
The result saw Ian Evatt’s men clinch promotion from League Two after a remarkable run during the second half of the campaign.
Afolayan became an important member of the squad after joining on loan from West Ham and would make the move permanent the following summer.
Ipswich heroics
The versatile attacker played a starring role in the emphatic 5-2 victory at Ipswich last season, scoring twice and also winning a penalty.
His second goal was a trademark finish, cutting onto his left foot and finding the bottom corner with a clinical strike across goal.
Eoin Doyle, Josh Sheehan and George Johnston were also on target on a day to remember for Bolton supporters.
Rochdale stunner
It is testament to Afolayan’s performances last term that four of his goals were nominated for the club’s Goal of the Season prize.
Arguably the pick of the bunch came against Rochdale in the Papa Johns Trophy, giving the goalkeeper absolutely no chance with a thumping strike that nestled in the top corner.
He also scored a brilliant solo effort against Shrewsbury, showing great skill to weave between several defenders and rifle home.
Award recognition
The forward was named Wanderers’ Player of the Year last season after finishing as top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions.
Afolayan produced some key moments in games as Evatt’s men achieved a ninth-place finish in their first season back in the third tier.
He followed in the footsteps of some big players over the years including the likes of Jay Jay Okocha and Jussi Jasskelainen.
Out of the side
Wanderers had struggled to get the best out of Afolayan since the switch to wing-backs around 12 months ago.
His best form came while playing on the left flank but he has since been used as a striker and in the number 10 role.
Evatt even tried him at wing-back in an effort to get him in the wide areas where he shines, but that proved to be short lived.
Accrington winner
Despite his time out of the side this season, Afolayan still produced a couple of vital moments such as the late winner at Accrington.
The Whites were staring a defeat after going two goals down at the Wham Stadium, but they got back on level terms through Harvey Rodgers’ own goal and Kieran Lee’s effort.
Afolayan found a way past Toby Savin at his near post with a low drive to complete the comeback and send the away end into raptures.
Final appearance
Afolayan’s Bolton career didn’t end the way he would have wanted, receiving a three-game suspension for an elbow on Lincoln midfielder Lasse Sorensen.
The incident was missed by the match officials at the time but the forward was charged by the FA retrospectively.
He was eligible for the Papa Johns Trophy quarter-final tie against Portsmouth but Evatt opted to leave him out of the squad that night.
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