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Wanderers have further added to their ranks with the announcement of dynamic and versatile midfielder Jay Matete on a season-long loan from Sunderland.
Matete, 23, arrives at the Toughsheet Community Stadium as the sixth summer arrival and will bring added energy and tenacity to Wanderers’ midfield.
With immense experience in the third tier of English football with promotions to his name as part of three different clubs, Jay will add incredible competition to the middle of the park.
Starting out as a scholar at Fleetwood Town, Jay’s ability was instantly recognised and went on to make his league debut in 2020 at the age of 19.
A loan spell at Grimsby Town would soon follow in the January of 2021 - coming up against Ian Evatt’s Wanderers in the club’s League Two campaign - becoming a mainstay in the Mariners’ line-up and a fan favourite due to his all-action performances.
On his return to the Cod Army, his performance levels continued and impressed enough to warrant interest from Sunderland, making the move to the North East in 2022 and helping them to promotion through the Play-Offs that season.
Carrying experience of playing in the Championship also, Jay’s development continued when on loan at Plymouth Argyle in 2023 – helping them to the League One title and promotion to the Second Tier - before time spent at Oxford United last season.
With the deal now finalised, Jay will go straight into training with Wanderers’ first-team squad as the lads get set for Saturday’s season opener at Leyton Orient.
Ian Evatt added: “Jay is a player that we have been aware of for a long time. I first took notice of him when he was at Grimsby at the end of our League Two promotion season, and we have been following his career ever since.
“We were interested in him before he went to Sunderland, so we’re very excited to be working with him now.
“He has been with teams that have been promoted out of this league for the last three years, so he has good experience in knowing what it takes, and he brings a different profile and skillset to our other midfielders. He knows a lot of our staff well too, including Stephen Crainey who worked with him at Fleetwood.
“For Jay, it’s a great challenge and opportunity to show what he can do in a Bolton shirt.”