Bolton Wanderers Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of versatile midfielder Xavier Simons on a four-year contract. The 22-year-old joins the Whites from Hull City for an undisclosed fee, with the transfer subject to EFL and FA approvals.
Simons, known for his energetic and combative displays in the middle of the park, will add steel and creativity to the Wanderers' engine room for the coming Sky Bet League One campaign.
A product of Chelsea's academy system, he has since gained valuable first-team experience, notably in Championship with Hull City. During the 2024/25 season, he made 20 appearances for the Tigers, scoring twice.
He enjoyed a productive loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers in the latter half of last season, where he featured 14 times and became a key component of their midfield.
Simons has also been recognised at international level, representing England from U15s up to U20s, including playing in the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in 2023.
Head Coach Steven Schumacher commented: "It's great to get Xavier on board. He’s got the qualities and the hunger we look for in a midfielder.
“He’ll bring real energy and a competitive edge to our midfield options; he’s got good legs and isn’t afraid to put a tackle in and has a great passing ability – an all-round midfielder. His grounding at Chelsea means he’s technically sound and he knows what this division is about from his time at Wycombe, on top of his Championship experience with Hull.
“Importantly, Xavier’s desire to be part of Bolton Wanderers is massive for us.
“He has the ability and the character to make a significant impact for us and our fans will appreciate his work rate.”
Speaking on his move, Simons told bwfc.co.uk: "I'm made up to be joining Bolton Wanderers. It’s a proper football club with a big history and fantastic support. I’m eager to get started.
“The conversations with the Head Coach and Fergal about their vision for the team and the club made my mind up pretty quickly. You can sense the drive here to achieve things and that’s something I was keen to be involved with.
“I really benefited from my loan at Wycombe last season, getting consistent games in League One. I want to bring that energy and commitment here, get on the ball and help the team push forward. My job is to contribute to the team’s success in any way I can.
“This feels like the right move at the right time for me. The club is clearly ambitious and I’m looking forward to getting out at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and playing for the supporters. They can expect me to give my all for the badge.”
Xavier is all signed up as a Wanderer, and is available for Player Sponsorship for the 2025/26 season. For more information, please contact Tia Davies on tdavies@bwfc.co.uk or 01204 327562.
Following the recent signing of Sam Dalby, Xavier Simons becomes another important acquisition for Steven Schumacher’s squad as they gear up for the 2025/26 League One season. An exclusive first interview with Xavier will be available for supporters to watch on Wanderers TV this evening.