Bolton Captain George Johnston Released Amid Squad Overhaul
George Johnston walked up the Wembley steps on Sunday as Bolton Wanderers’ captain, medal around his neck, promotion to the Championship secured. Four days later, his time at the club is over.
The longest-serving player in the current squad, Johnston has been released after five years at the University of Bolton Stadium, his departure underlining the scale of the rebuild facing Steven Schumacher as he prepares for life back in the second tier.
The 27-year-old centre-back, who came through Liverpool’s academy before a spell at Feyenoord, made 188 appearances for Wanderers and grew into one of the club’s modern reference points. Trusted enough to lead the team out in the League One play-off final win over Stockport at Wembley, he now leaves with his work done and his chapter closed.
He is not alone.
Jordi Osei-Tutu, the right-back who also started in that promotion-clinching victory, will depart this summer as well. The 27-year-old, signed from German side Bochum in August 2024, featured 80 times in a two-year spell, providing energy and width on the flank as Bolton pushed their way out of League One.
The clear-out runs deeper into the squad.
Midfielder Kyle Dempsey, named among the substitutes but unused at Wembley, has been released. So too has Carlos Mendes Gomes, who spent most of the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Exeter City and never truly forced his way into Schumacher’s Championship plans.
All of it points to a manager drawing a sharp line between the promotion campaign and what comes next.
Summer Recruitment
Schumacher’s summer will be dominated by recruitment. It has to be. A significant chunk of the group that helped secure promotion will not be around when the Championship season kicks off, with a raft of loan players now heading back to their parent clubs.
- Johnny Kenny
- Rob Apter
- Ibrahim Cissoko
- Marcus Forss
- Corey Blackett-Taylor
- Mason Burstow
- Amario Cozier-Duberry
have all completed their temporary spells and returned, leaving sizeable gaps across the pitch. Depth, which looked like a strength in the run-in, suddenly feels fragile.
There is change overseas too. Szabi Schon, the Hungary midfielder who made 44 appearances for Bolton, has completed a permanent move to ETO FC Gyor after two years with Wanderers. The 25-year-old spent last season on loan with the Hungarian champions, who have now triggered their option to sign him.
Promotion often brings celebration followed quickly by cold decisions. Bolton have enjoyed their moment on the balcony. Now comes the hard part: rebuilding a Championship squad almost from the ground up, without some of the players who dragged them there.
