Bolton Wanderers are delighted to confirm the signing of the vastly experienced Scott Arfield as the club’s fourth new arrival of the summer.
Arfield joins the Whites from MLS side Charlotte FC on an initial one-year-deal to add a top-level pedigree – including 337 appearances in the English and Scottish Premier Leagues and 70 games in European competition – and a proven winning mentality to manager Ian Evatt’s squad.
With a league title, cup and multiple promotion successes on his CV, the 35-year-old former Rangers and Burnley favourite will bring invaluable know-how to Wanderers – on and off the pitch – along with the ability to play in a variety of midfield positions to greatly increase Evatt’s in-game options throughout the season.
The Wanderers’ boss said: “Losing Cameron and Jon - two of our most experienced players in the summer - we feel that's a role we need to fill.
“Scotty has obviously had a very good career and was playing in a Europa League final not so long ago. He's been playing regularly in the MLS and is still able to do the job. He wants to help us on the pitch but also off it. That experienced voice away from the staff is really going to help us.
“He will give us flexibility in the middle of the pitch when we want to change systems and will give us that opportunity. If you discuss the experience and mental role with Scotty he understands that, but first and foremost he’s coming here to make a difference to the team. That's important to say and I'm excited to work with him.
“One thing we always have at this club is a pressure to win. In his whole career he's had that pressure - especially with Glasgow Rangers and Burnley. That's what he's going to bring to the table; a calm, cool, experienced head and someone who's going to be able to help us on the pitch.”
Having started his career in the Scottish Premiership at Falkirk, Arfield joined Huddersfield Town in 2010 and twice reached the League One play-offs with the Terriers, clinching his first promotion in 2012.
The Scotland-born midfielder was then twice part of a Burnley side that went up from the Championship to the Premier League – once as champions under Sean Dyche in 2016 – contributing eight goals from midfield on each occasion.
One of the Clarets’ top signings of that era, Arfield went on to play almost 200 games in a five-year stay with Burnley – including 86 in the Premier League – as a highly popular and influential figure at Turf Moor.
Moving north to Rangers as former England captain Steven Gerrard’s first signing as manager in 2018, Arfield then became an iconic figure at Ibrox as he helped the Glasgow club re-establish itself at the top end of the Scottish game, scoring double figures in his first season back in the Scottish top tier.
Arfield went on to make 233 appearances for Rangers, helping Gerrard’s side win the Scottish Premiership title in 2021 – their first title in a decade – and the Scottish Cup the following season under Dutch master Giovanni van Bonckhorst after his goal against Celtic in the semi-finals had helped Rangers progress to a final win over Hearts at Hampden Park.
Rangers also reached the final of the Europa League two years ago with Arfield playing a huge part in the run to the final in Seville, where he was among the successful penalty takers before Rangers lost on spot-kicks to Eintracht Frankfurt.
As well as his 70 appearances for Rangers in the Europa and Champions Leagues, he also arrives with the big-game experience of playing in 28 Old Firm derbies, eight cup finals and 15 semi-finals, as well as winning 19 caps for Canada through his Toronto-born father after representing Scotland at U21 and B level.
Arfield moved to the States last summer to join Charlotte and after 27 appearances in Major League Soccer and six more in cup competitions, he returns to the UK equipped with over 700 club games and almost 100 goals and ready for his latest challenge as a senior professional in a Wanderers’ squad ready to launch another tilt at League One.
Arfield – who follows defender Chris Forino, forward Kaidi Lolos and goalkeeper Luke Southwood in joining Wanderers so far this summer – will again wear squad number 37 in continued memory of former Falkirk team-mate and friend Craig Gowans, who died in a training-ground accident when the pair were youngsters with The Bairns.