Club News

Farewell To Rico And Geth

7th May 2025

Bolton Wanderers Football Club confirms that long-serving defenders Gethin Jones and Ricardo Almeida Santos will leave the club upon the expiry of their current contracts this summer.

Goalkeepers Nathan Baxter and Joel Coleman also reach the end of their current deals in June and will end their stays with the Whites.

In addition, loan players Jay Matete, Alex Murphy and Kion Etete have returned to their parent clubs after Wanderers completed their League One season last Saturday.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson, 22, has been offered a new contract to potentially extend his career with the Whites, while contract options have been taken up to keep youngsters Max Conway, 21, and Sonny Sharples-Ahmed, 20, at the club.

The departure of Almeida Santos and Jones – both 29 – spells the end of a five-year period which saw the two become central figures during a significant time for the club.

The duo, who signed within a day of each other in August, 2020, were instrumental in securing automatic promotion from League Two at the first attempt in the 2020/21 season as they went on to serve Wanderers with distinction and provide leadership both on and off the pitch.

Jones was appointed vice-captain in January 2022, while Almeida Santos captained the side from October 2021 until September 2024, leading the team during memorable campaigns.

Both players performed key roles in the club lifting the Papa Johns Trophy at Wembley Stadium following a commanding 4-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle in April 2023. Jones scored the fourth goal that afternoon, while Almeida Santos had the honour of lifting the trophy in front of over 34,000 jubilant Wanderers supporters.

During his time at the club, Jones – who joined the Whites on a free transfer from Carlisle United – made 188 appearances, scoring 8 goals. His consistent performances also earned him senior international recognition, winning six caps for Australia while registered as a Wanderers player.

Almeida Santos made 207 appearances for the Whites, scoring six times, after signing on a free transfer from National League side Barnet. He was named the club's Player of the Year for the promotion-winning 2020/21 season and earned inclusions in the PFA divisional Team of the Year four times across both League Two and League One campaigns.

Santos and Jones Peterborough February 2023

A further particularly memorable contribution came when he scored twice in Wanderers' historic 5,000th league match – a 5-0 victory away at his former club Peterborough United in February 2023.

Wanderers’ Head Coach, Steven Schumacher, said: "Decisions like these are always difficult, particularly with players like Geth and Rico who have given so much to Bolton Wanderers over the years. They were central figures in the promotion from League Two and the EFL Trophy success at Wembley and have conducted themselves with great professionalism throughout their time here.

“Their seniority was important for the group and they have been fantastic for me since my arrival. On behalf of everyone at the club, I thank them for their considerable efforts and wish them both the very best in their future careers, along with all the other players leaving the club this summer.”

Baxter, 26, departs after making 72 appearances in his two seasons with Wanderers, helping the Whites to the League One play-off final last season, while Bolton-born Coleman ends a two-year stay which brought the 29-year-old 19 first-team appearances.

Nine members of the Whites’ B Team squad are also being released, with options taken up on the contracts of goalkeeper Jack Dallimore and defender Sean Hogan, who ended the season on the bench with the first team.

Seven of Wanderers’ double-winning Youth Team squad have been offered their first professional deals, with defender Oliver Smith and striker David Abimbola – who finished the season with four first-team appearances – already securing their futures at the club.

Bolton Wanderers extends its sincere gratitude to both Gethin Jones and Ricardo Almeida Santos for their significant contributions, commitment and professionalism during their time at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and to all those departing the club this summer for their contribution to Wanderers while playing for the club.