Wanderers’ B Team has strengthened its squad ahead of the new season by completing the signing of defender Luke Matheson.
The former Rochdale and Wolves youngster has agreed a 12-month deal with the Whites after a successful trial spell.
As well as training with Matt Craddock’s squad, Matheson – a free agent after leaving Wolves at the end of last season – has also played the last three pre-season friendlies and will be involved again when the B Team play at Warrington Rylands tonight (Tuesday).
Matheson, 20, becomes the fourth summer signing for the B Team following the arrivals of defender Charlie Hayes-Green and the front pair of Ben Andreucci and Trevon Bryan.
The move brings the right-sided defender – who became Rochdale’s youngest debutant when he featured in an EFL Trophy tie at the age of 15 before scoring in a League Cup tie at Manchester United a year later in 2019 – back to the North-West.
Following an injury-disrupted stay with Wolves, which also involved loan spells at Ipswich Town, Hamilton Academicals and Scunthorpe United, Manchester-born Matheson is now hoping to resume his progress with Wanderers after joining the B team set-up.
“It’s a chance for me to get back on my feet again,” he said.
“For different factors it didn’t work out at Wolves, so it’s just me turning the page of the book, carrying on my career, carrying on the journey and Bolton, from what I’ve experienced so far, seems the perfect place for me to find my feet again. Every player and the staff – everyone I’ve met – has been amazing with me.
“The day I signed my first professional contract was one of the happiest moments of my life. Growing up, every boy’s dream is to be a professional footballer and to live that is something I’ll never take for granted.
“Every contract is something that allows me to continue doing what I love and I’m grateful to Bolton and the previous clubs I’ve had contracts with for giving me that opportunity.
“I’ve not played football for a while. Injuries have added to that. It’s finding my feet, little baby steps and, hopefully, if all goes well, I’ll be pushing to play with the Bolton badge on my chest with a lot of pride which I know comes with the club.”
The B Team, introduced last summer to aid player development and foster a better pathway between Academy and first-team football, has made huge recent progress and is currently enjoying a productive pre-season campaign.
A 3-0 win over Everton’s U21s last Saturday extended their unbeaten start ahead of the trip to Warrington to face the Northern Premier Division top-flight side their Gorsey Lane ground (KO 7.30pm). Entry is £2.