NafisaAs clubs across Britain continue reshaping their squads ahead of the new campaign, experienced players are becoming increasingly valuable assets in the transfer market.
While much of the attention often falls on big-money arrivals and high-profile moves, managers also understand the importance of bringing in proven professionals who know how to handle the demands of a long and challenging season.
For teams with promotion ambitions, recruitment is not always about signing the most exciting name available. Sometimes it is about adding leadership, reliability and experience to a dressing room that is preparing for another gruelling battle.
That has certainly been the case at several clubs this summer, with a number of seasoned Championship and Premiership performers attracting attention after finding themselves available for new opportunities.
One such player has now secured his next challenge after bringing his time at Rangers to an end.
Bolton Wanderers have completed the signing of defender Ben Davies on a two-year contract following his departure from Scottish Premiership outfit Rangers.
The 30-year-old centre-back first established himself with Preston North End, making 145 appearances during his spell with the Lancashire side before earning a move to Liverpool.
Although he never featured competitively for the Anfield club, Davies would later continue his career north of the border after joining Rangers in 2022, where he went on to make 58 appearances across all competitions.
His move to Bolton marks the beginning of another chapter in a career that has already included experiences at some of the biggest clubs in Britain.
Speaking after the transfer was completed, Davies expressed his excitement about the opportunity.
“It feels brilliant to be here. I heard of interest from a few clubs but as soon as I knew Bolton were interested, this was the club I wanted to come to.
“It’s going to be exciting times back in the Championship after an excellent year last season. I’ve seen that the average attendance last year was over 20,000 and that was a massive pull for me.”
Davies arrives at Bolton after spending much of the last two seasons away from Rangers on loan.
The defender featured 35 times during a hugely successful campaign with Birmingham City, helping the club secure the League One title in 2024/25 while contributing to what became a record-breaking season.
Last term, he also spent part of the campaign with Oxford United, making 11 appearances as he continued to gain regular first-team football.
For Bolton, the signing represents a significant addition of experience and leadership at the back. Davies has accumulated valuable experience throughout his career across different levels of English and Scottish football, and Wanderers will hope that knowledge can help strengthen their push in the Championship.
After years spent moving between clubs and loan spells, Davies now has the opportunity to settle into a long-term project once again.
Bolton supporters will undoubtedly hope that the former Rangers and Liverpool defender can bring stability, composure and defensive quality as the club looks to build on last season’s progress and continue moving in the right direction.
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