Former Burnley midfielder Scott Arfield is reportedly close to a move to League One side Bolton Wanderers, according to journalist Tom Bogert on X.
The 35-year-old currently plies his trade for MLS outfit Charlotte FC but looks poised to cut his stay across the pond short to move back to the UK.
Arfield moved to the US side, managed by Dean Smith, in 2023 ahead of their first professional campaign. Over two seasons he has made 33 appearances in all competitions but now looks set to bring his spell overseas to an end.
The highly experienced midfielder started his career at Scottish side Falkirk, playing 124 times before his move to England with Huddersfield Town, where he spent three years before making the switch to Burnley. After his spell in England, Arfield returned to Scotland with Rangers, with whom he won the SPFL title and reached a Europa League final.
His most successful stint south of the border, however, was his time at Turf Moor. Arfield made 193 appearances in East Lancashire, scoring 22 times in a highly successful period for the Clarets. He played his part in two promotions from the Championship, including in 2015-16 when the club were promoted back to the Premier League as champions at the first time of asking. His final season in the North West saw Burnley qualify for the Europa League before his move up to Glasgow.
Arfield is also experienced on the international front for no less than two countries. The midfielder played youth football for Scotland, his country of birth, before switching to his father’s nation of birth, Canada. He has amassed 19 caps for the North Americans so far, the last of those coming in 2019.
Bolton will be looking to Arfield to add some promotion experience to a squad desperate to make the step up to the second tier after several seasons in League One.
The club will again be one of the frontrunners in what looks like a tough division this year, as they hope to bounce back from last season’s play-off final defeat to Oxford United. Manager Ian Evatt will certainly be hoping Arfield’s signature can help them during what is set to be a difficult 2024-25 season.
Writer’s View
This would be a great move for Bolton and Ian Evatt, who will be looking to add experience and promotion knowhow to his squad as they look to finally exit League One. The league looks stacked this year, but if the club sign Arfield it would certainly boost their chances. For the player, this is a chance to return to English football as a regular player and a realistic opportunity to add another promotion to his name as his career winds down.
Rhys Evitts is a freelance journalist who graduated from the University of Lincoln with a degree in Journalism in 2024. Rhys has contributed to the Real EFL since finishing university in June 2024 and also hosts The Real EFL Podcast, and specialises in the Championship and League One.
