English League One outfit Bolton Wanderers have made it a double signing day with the signing of exciting wing-back Jordi Osei-Tutu on an initial two-year deal.
The 25-year-old arrives at the Toughsheet Community Stadium from VfL Bochum, where he joined in 2022 for an undisclosed fee, becoming the club’s seventh summer signing to further bolster Ian Evatt’s ranks in the wide areas ahead of the new campaign.
Starting out his football journey at Reading, Jordi’s ability as a young footballer was quickly recognised when linking up with Arsenal’s academy in 2015, signing a professional contract with the Premier League giants in the same year.
Working his way through the system and known for his tenacity and attacking flair from full-back, the Slough-born defender was part of Arsenal’s first team squad for a number of pre-season trips, as well as making the bench for a handful of Premier League games – including a clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Loan spells helped to forge his development with the Gunners, with time spent in the Championship at both Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest were preceded by a fruitful loan spell with Vfl Bochum in the 2019-20 season.
With five goals and three assists in his 22 appearances in the 2 Bundesliga, Osei-Tutu left a lasting mark at the German club for his dynamic performances, impressing enough for Bochum to return for his services when making it a permanent deal back in 2022.
Osei-Tutu also has a hugely successful loan spell at Rotherham United to his name, making 16 appearances in the second half of the 2022/23 season to help the Millers to League One promotion. He also contributed on the biggest stage when scoring an outstanding 96th minute equaliser at Wembley in the Papa Johns Trophy final on the way to Rotherham securing the trophy.
Arriving now at Wanderers on the back of time spent last season with PAS Giannina, Osei-Tutu carries a pedigree that spans across Europe and the top three tiers of English football.
As the attacking wing-back now heads into his prime footballing years and having an ability to operate on both sides of the field, the pacy defender will no doubt add real quality and depth to Ian Evatt’s squad.
On securing his new signing, Ian Evatt said: “Jordi is a player we’ve been aware of for a while and he has a great pedigree.
“He started at Arsenal, has had a couple of loans in England before moving into the Bundesliga. He’s played at a high level and he is a player with a lot of talent.
“He is really athletic, fast, has very good dribbling skills and carries a 1-v-1 threat. For us in those wide areas, that’s really important.
“For us to take a player from the Bundesliga is great and it’s brilliant that he’s bought into our project. Hopefully, he can show everyone what he can do and be a massive success.”
Meanwhile, the former defender Jordi Osei-Tutu will wear the number 14 shirt for Wanderers this season.
