Bolton Wanderers have secured a number of new signings this summer who agreed to reduced wages in a bid to support the club’s fight for survival in the Championship. The Trotters, under manager Steven Schumacher, brought in 13 players during the transfer window, several of whom accepted pay cuts to join the side.

Among the recruits believed to have agreed to lower salaries are goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, defenders Ben Davies and Akin Famewo, midfielder Atsuki Ito, and Lewis Brunt. The willingness of these players to take financial reductions is viewed by the club as a demonstration of their commitment to Bolton’s objectives.

Sporting director Fergal Harkin commented on the signings, stating that the club prioritized bringing in players who understood the challenge ahead and were eager to be part of the team’s effort to improve their standing. “We signed a lot of players in the window that came to the club for reduced wages. That shows they really wanted to be part of it. We wanted players that wanted to come and understood what fight we have and what we’re trying to do. That’s really important,” Harkin said.

Bolton currently find themselves near the bottom of the Championship table and are aiming to move away from the relegation zone. The club hopes to achieve back-to-back wins for the first time this season in their upcoming match against Norwich City, which would help strengthen their position in the league standings.

The strategy of recruiting players ready to accept lower pay demonstrates Bolton’s efforts to build a competitive squad within their financial constraints while maintaining focus on their primary goal of Championship survival.