The lowdown on Bolton Wanderers new signing Chris Forino

Chris Forino became Bolton’s first signing of the summer when he agreed a three-year deal to sign from Wycombe at the start of next month.

Islington-born but with Italian and St Lucian background, the 24-year-old has taken an unconventional path to professional football and had given up the sport completely between the ages of 15 and 17 after being released by Brentford.

Forino was with the Bees between the ages of 10 and 16 but opted to concentrate on his studies, which led to him signing up for a degree at Loughborough University.

He played part-time for non-league Cheshunt and impressed Colchester United enough during an FA Youth Cup game to earn a trial in 2018, leading to his first pro deal. But the student life was calling once again when he was released by the U’s and after playing for a season in the Isthiman Premier with Wingate and Finchley he was signed up for the university side at Loughborough when he got a chance phone call in 2021.

“I woke up in bed in the middle of the morning and got a call from an agent I hadn’t heard from for ages, saying there was a trial game at Wycombe and was I fit to play,” he explained.

“I don’t know if I was fit exactly but I was always going to take the opportunity and I did well enough to earn a trial off the back of it.”

Within 12 months he had overcome a serious knee injury and was playing regular first team football for Wycombe, even being tipped to continue his career in the Championship or Premier League by Gareth Ainsworth, not bad for a player the manager later admitted had been brought in that morning to “make up the numbers” in the trial match.

He played 34 games in the Chairboys’ first season back in League One, 38 the next, and last summer had the opportunity to join Ainsworth again when he moved on to QPR.

Chris Forino celebrates a goal for Wycombe Wanderers (Image: PA)

The West London club’s financial issues prevented them from doing a deal – but theirs was not the only offer Forino had received, and he may well have made another career detour had he accepted the chance to sign up for ITV’s hit reality show Love Island.

Producers actually asked him twice – but Forino was eventually glad that he turned the chance down.

“When I used to watch it, about 2019, I would have done it,” he said. “But then I watched it with my mum and sister and I thought if they took me out and put me on there how embarrassed I’d be, so no chance.”

Another opportunity presented itself at the end of 2022, with St Lucia coach Stern John offering a chance to play international football.

He has not yet featured for the Caribbean nation but speaking about the decision last year he felt it was a positive step to take in his career.

“I had a chat with my sister and other members of my family about it and in a way, it was a bit of a no-brainer,” he said. “It’s always an honour to be called up to your country, whatever country it is at any level.

“And for me, I felt it was the right decision for my career in the way I see my career going.

“I feel as if England or Italy are unrealistic for me, so I’m lucky to be playing for Saint Lucia.

“It also takes you to a wonderful part of the world.”

Wycombe offered Forino the chance to extend his contract last season but after keeping his options open, Bolton put in their offer and a deal was done.

Where he fits in Ian Evatt’s plans is now the topic of much discussion among supporters, particularly with some conjecture over the future of captain, Ricardo Santos.

Positionally, Forino has played more of his football as a wide centre-half, on either edge of the back three, but his pace, aerial power and stature have drawn inevitable comparisons with Evatt’s long-time lieutenant.

Wanderers have George Johnston back from long-term injury and though there are no guarantees that the former Liverpool and Feyenoord defender will be immediately back up to speed, he will be seeking to reclaim his first team spot eventually after 12 months away.

Evatt has had to replace youngster Caleb Taylor, who returned to West Brom, but Forino has been a regular at Wycombe for the last two seasons, so it would be hard to imagine him dropping down as back-up after coming to the Toughsheet Stadium.