Wanderers have further strengthened their squad with experienced defender Cyrus Christie becoming the Whites’ second and final signing of transfer deadline day.
Christie – a free agent after leaving Championship club Swansea City at the end of last season – joins Wanderers on an initial 12-month deal with the option of a further year.
The capture of the 32-year-old concludes a busy summer of in-coming business for the Whites, with 14 new players arriving to improve and re-shape head coach Steven Schumacher’s squad since Fergal Harkin took over as the Whites’ Sporting Director.
The summer transfer window for EFL clubs closes at 7pm this evening (Monday) with Wanderers, who earlier in the day confirmed the season-long loan signing of Middlesbrough forward Marcus Forss, still conducting potential out-going business ahead of the deadline.
Christie’s signing secures the services of a right-sided defender, who can operate at full-back or more centrally to increase the competition along the Whites’ back line, as well as the know-how of almost 500 club appearances and 30 international caps with the Republic of Ireland.
Most of Christie’s games have come at Championship level, twice helping Fulham win promotion to the Premier League, along with spells at Coventry City, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Hull City and Swansea.
Having enjoyed a taste of the top-flight with Fulham, Christie also recalls watching Wanderers playing in the Premier League and is delighted to have joined a club with the Whites’ pedigree after completing his move ahead of Monday’s deadline.
“Being a free agent there's no real rush to get certain things done. You can wait ‘til the market's finished but Bolton showed the intent,” he said. “They showed that they really wanted me and I think as any footballer, in any person, in any job, that's always something that you want. You want to know that they really want you.
“With a free agent you get a lot of offers. Sometimes they maybe try to undervalue what you can bring and chance it, so it's been great that the staff here really wanted me. I had a conversation with the manager and Fergal and they explained the whole project and what they want to achieve and what I can bring to the team and, for me, that was great to hear.
“It’s a massive club and I remember it from the Premier League days. Obviously, I'm getting a bit older. I think I might be the oldest in the squad, so I remember the days of (Jay-Jay) Okocha and (Ivan) Campo and people like that. It's a fantastic club with a lot of history and hopefully I can be a part of re-building the future and getting the good old days back and looking to push up the leagues.”
Christie returns to League One level for the first time since two seasons in the third tier with hometown club Coventry City over a decade ago. The defender – who then moved onto Derby and helped the Rams reach the Championship play-offs in 2016 – is confident Wanderers can quickly convert a solid start to the season, which has seen them lost just once so far in League One, into a more sustained push and is ready to play his part – on and off the field.
“As long as everyone sticks together, stays on board,” Christie told Wanderers TV. “It's a long season. There's nine months left and however many games it goes around, it takes time. You can lose one game and then win two in one week and it’s a completely different picture, how the table looks.
“The fans will obviously be massive for us this season in helping us push. It is a young team, so they're going to need as much backing and as much confidence as possible.
“With my experience and my age and what I've achieved in the game, I think I can bring that to the changing room. I'm not going to be the loudest shouter. I don't really believe in it and that's not my character.
“I'm quite a calm, collected character but I’m really good at giving advice to people and the young boys on what they can do and how they can do something better. I think I've done that really in the last few clubs I've been at. Obviously when you get older, I think that's the role you have to naturally step into, in terms of being a leader, a captain within the changing room and on the pitch, the way you go about things and how you lead your life.
“I think I've been big on that throughout my whole career. The way I've looked after myself is something I pride myself on. I'm working hard, making sure that I want to give myself the best chance possible and the longest chance possible to play for as long as possible.
“I obviously feel I've got a point to prove. Over the last two seasons I didn't really play too much and I think I've still got a lot left in me. The numbers prove it when I do play. I'm here to add leadership and add experience, but not to just do that.
“I'm also here to add value on the pitch and I believe I can do that. Wherever the gaffer wants me to play, whether that's right-back or centre-back, I believe that I'll bring some good performances. It's good to be here and I can't wait to get going and get on the pitch.”
Watch the first full interview with Wanderers’ latest new signing on Wanderers TV