Dion Charles has committed his future to the Whites after signing a new long-term contract with Wanderers, writes Pete Oliver.
The prolific striker has agreed a new three-year deal running until June, 2026 as Wanderers secure the services of another of their key men in a further major boost for the club.
Charles had previously been under contract until June, 2025 after signing from Accrington Stanley in January 2022.
The Northern Ireland international, 27, has since scored 32 goals in 81 appearances for Ian Evatt’s side and has been rewarded with an improved, extended deal to deter any potential interest from elsewhere and confirm his place in the manager’s plan for the foreseeable future.
“I’m delighted Dion has signed a new contract, which is thoroughly deserved,” said Bolton boss Evatt.
“He is a key player for us, as his volume of goals show, and this commitment and his hunger to keep improving means he will be around for a long time to score plenty more.
“I believe he is one of the leading strikers in the EFL and this is further proof that Dion, and the club, are determined to keep progressing.
“We have already made huge strides in the past couple of years and are doing everything we can to keep moving this club forwards.
“This is another positive sign from a player and the club that we are going in the right direction and, thanks to the backing of the owners and the Board, another really positive piece of business completed in the transfer window.”
The predatory Charles scored eight goals in the second half of the 2021/22 season following his arrival from Accrington.
He then became the first Wanderers’ player in 22 years to score 20 goals in a season when he netted 21 times for the Whites last term – including a first hat-trick for the club in a 5-0 win at Peterborough – to spearhead Wanderers’ run to the League One play-off semi-finals.
Charles also scored one of the goals at Wembley as Evatt’s men beat Plymouth Argyle 4-0 in April to win the Papa Johns Trophy.
The former Fleetwood Town and Southport striker got up-and-running for the current campaign with a double in Wanderers’ 3-0 win at Cheltenham Town earlier this month.
And he was on target again last Saturday, when his coolly taken equaliser at Burton Albion extended Wanderers’ impressive start to the season, as Evatt’s men made it 10 points from five League One games ahead of Tuesday night’s home Carabao Cup tie against Middlesbrough.
Charles follows midfielder George Thomason in putting pen to paper on a new deal after George Johnston, Gethin Jones, Kyle Dempsey, Josh Sheehan and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson also agreed extended contracts earlier this summer as Wanderers continue to build and strive for further success.