Wanderers have completed the permanent signing of striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to add further international quality to Ian Evatt’s squad.
The Icelander arrives from Championship side Millwall as the Whites’ fifth signing of the January transfer window and becomes Wanderers’ new number nine after agreeing an 18-month contract at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Bodvarsson, 29, has been capped 62 times by his country and continues an illustrious line of his countrymen to sign for Wanderers, led by the likes of Gudni Bergsson, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Gretar Steinsson who helped the Whites reach and compete in the Premier League.
“It’s taken some hard work from all sides and we’re delighted to have him on board,” said Wanderers’ boss Evatt.
“Jon has bought into the project and the club and what we’re trying to do and the history of the club has kind of helped us with this one, with the amount of Icelandic players we’ve had in the past.
“Jon watched a lot of Bolton growing up. He was almost a fan. So it’s great to have him on board and add some more strength to our squad.
“He’s an international player, played in the World Cup and is only 29 with loads to offer.
“He brings a lot of experience, a lot of good qualities to this team and we’re excited to have him. He’s another piece to the jigsaw.”
As well as his international pedigree – which includes appearances in the 2016 European Championships and the 2018 World Cup Finals – Bodvarsson also brings vast Championship experience and a goal-scoring track record from four different countries.
After starting his career with hometown club Selfoss and firing them to promotion to Iceland’s top tier, Bodvarsson moved to Norwegian club Viking and then onto Germany with Kaiserslautern.
His first taste of English football came when he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in August, 2016 before signing for Reading 12 months later.
Bodvarsson – whose arrival takes Wanderers’ number of Icelandic players past and present close to double figures – scored 17 goals in 55 appearances for the Royals, with his 10 goals in 2017/18 making him joint top scorer for the Championship side.
The frontman then joined Millwall in July, 2019 and made 78 appearances for the Lions, including 69 in the Championship, with half-a-dozen goals coming in his first season at the New Den.
A starting member of the Iceland side that knocked England out to reach the quarter-finals of the 2016 Euros in France, Bodvarsson remains part of his country’s plans and scored in a 1-1 draw against Uganda in one of two friendlies played by Iceland last week.
And after ending his stay in South London, the striker – who is technically strong with a fantastic work ethic and impressive physical presence – will now add an extra dimension to Wanderers’ attacking options following the arrival of new striking colleague Dion Charles from Accrington Stanley earlier in the window.