Neil Danns has agreed a permanent move to Bolton Wanderers, having impressed since initially joined them on loan back in September.
The 31-year-old began the campaign as part of Nigel Pearson’s squad at Leicester City, but his only appearances came in the League Cup when he played in wins against Wycombe Wanderers and Carlisle United in August. He then joined Bolton on loan until January, and this was extended until the end of the season after featuring regularly.
In total Danns has now racked up 34 appearances in all competitions for the Reebok Stadium club, and with his contract at the King Power Stadium set to expire in the summer, he has agreed to join the Lancashire side on a permanent basis. A statement on the Foxes’ official club website confirmed: “The club would like to thank Neil Danns for his contribution and wish him all the best for the future at Bolton Wanderers.”
The midfielder began his career at Blackburn Rovers, but during his two-year spell at Ewood Park he had loan stints at Blackpool, Hartlepool United, and Colchester United, the latter of whom signed him permanently in 2004. Danns then moved on to Birmingham City and Crystal Palace before joining Leicester in 2011, and over the past couple of years he has had temporary spells at Bristol City, Huddersfield Town and Bolton.
The Trotters were mentioned as promotion candidates at the start of the season, but with just one match remaining, the highest they can likely finish is 13th in the standings. Fans will no doubt be hoping that Danns is not the only signing ahead of next term, and manager Dougie Freedman has revealed that further plans have begun to improve the squad in order to enjoy a more successful campaign than the current edition.
“I have to have one eye on the financial side of things,” he told BBC’s Late Kick-Off. “But I have got to make sure we’re competitive next season also. I want to be making sure the type of player I bring in is a younger player that has got more potential to try and get better. My first love is coaching and that’s what I am trying to get. The squad is a lot younger at the moment and that obviously has financial benefits as well.”
