WANDERERS have completed the signing of Portuguese attacking midfielder Ruben Rodrigues on a free transfer.
The 29-year-old former Oxford United and Notts County star has ended a spell playing in Brazil to sign an 18-month deal with the Whites, who also have an option to extend by a further year.
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Rodrigues becomes the sixth new arrival of the January transfer window, joining Lewis Temple, Jack Bonham, David Harrington, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Rob Apter in Steven Schumacher’s promotion-chasing squad.
His move has not been completed in time for him to feature at Wimbledon on Saturday, however, and he has not travelled with the team to London.
After starting his career in the Netherlands with Den Bosch, he made a significant impact in English football with Notts County, scoring 51 goals in 127 appearances. He subsequently played a key role in Oxford United’s promotion to the Championship – featuring against Bolton in the 2024 play-off final – and contributing 13 goals and nine assists in 95 games for the U’s
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He moved in the summer to join Brazilian Serie A side EC Vitória but failed to settle and sought to return to Europe as quickly as possible.
He said: “Bolton is a massive club and I am really looking forward to playing back in England – I have unfinished business here.
“I am determined to play Championship football with this club next year and I will work as hard as I can to make that happen with my teammates.
“The squad is very strong and I cannot wait to get going with the gaffer and his staff.
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“The fans are brilliant, I hear only good things and have experienced it myself on many occasions. It is a good moment for me.”
Steven Schumacher has been looking for someone to provide more of an end product in the number 10 position this season, with John McAtee, Kyle Dempsey, Marcus Forss, Aaron Morley and Joel Randall all used at one stage or another.
The Bolton boss now has high hopes that his new signing, who will wear the number 27 shirt, can make a positive impact.
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“Ruben is a player we have admired for some time. He has the technical ability to unlock defences and the experience of winning promotion from this league.
“We want to finish the season strongly and adding a player of his calibre gives us another dimension in the final third.”
