Wanderers have secured their fifth signing of the summer with the capture of highly-regarded Port Vale defender Will Forrester.
The Whites are delighted to have completed a deal for one of the EFL’s top young defensive talents after paying an undisclosed fee for the 22-year-old.
Forrester has signed a three-year contract at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and joins striker Dan Nlundulu, wing-back Josh Dacres-Cogley and goalkeepers Nathan Baxter and Joel Coleman in joining Ian Evatt’s squad ahead of the new season.
Forrester, who came through the Academy system at Stoke City before making his EFL debut in the Championship in May, 2021, joined Port Vale last summer.
And after an outstanding season in League One with the Valiants, which saw him take his senior appearances to one short of 50, he now makes the switch to Wanderers for the next step of a burgeoning career.
“I really enjoyed my time at Port Vale and I feel like a developed a hell of lot there. I owe all of the staff and the players there a lot for taking a chance on me from when I came from Stoke,” said Forrester.
“The reason I went to Port Vale was to play football and now this move has come to light and hopefully I can go on and play even more in time.
“When this opportunity came to light it was one I couldn’t turn down. Bolton is a huge club and I want to be part of this club and hopefully get it back to where it belongs.”
Forrester has played predominantly as a right-sided central defender but is at happy playing across a back three.
The Alsager-born player, who celebrated his 22nd birthday in the last week of June, is comfortable in possession and as well as liking to defend one-on-one is also assured playing out and passing from the back.
As well as perfectly fitting the Wanderers’ playing blueprint now, the Whites are also looking forward to seeing Forrester develop and grow his game further as part of their set-up.
Forrester twice faced Wanderers last season in helping Vale re-establish themselves in League One following promotion in 2022.
And having made the switch to a club that reached last season’s League One play-off semi-finals, he’s delighted to be able to call Wanderers home.
“When we came to play here it was the first time I’d been to the stadium. It kind of takes your breath away. It’s a Premier League stadium, really,” Forrester added.
“I was delighted to play on the pitch and now I can say this is my home, so I’m hopefully going to play there many more times.
“From what I’ve seen there’s a very good buzz about the place. Losing in the play-offs was obviously disappointing but, I think, will only make the club stronger and we will hopefully go one better this year and go all the way.
“I’m looking forward to playing under the gaffer because I know they like to play football, so it suits me perfectly. When I knew about the interest, the first thing you look for is how does the team play?
“Bolton suits me down to a ‘T’ the way that they play, so hopefully I can go and show what I’m about and give the fans something to cheer about. I’m delighted to be here.”