Bolton Wanderers hit the jackpot from West Ham transfer decision - But regret may linger | OneFootball

Dapo Afolayan was integral at the start of Bolton Wanderers' recent progress

West Ham United have been renowned for producing so many great talents throughout their well-documented history, and that has certainly continued in recent seasons.

With the production hub in this part of East London dubbed 'the academy of football', so many clubs, as well as the Hammers, have gone on to benefit from transfer or loan dealings as the next talents in line at the London Stadium go in search of regular first-team football during the early stages of their professional careers.

It wasn't that long ago that Bolton Wanderers were seen as major divisional rivals to West Ham either, having become one of the Premier League's best-performing sides during the mid 2000s, before being involved in a handful of relegation battles prior to their fall back into the EFL in May 2012.

The club's fortunes since dropping out of the Premier League have been well-documented as they currently reside in League One as a highly-ambitious club with aspirations of, one day, ending their aforementioned hiatus from the top flight, whilst promotion back to the Championship is ultimately the key objective for Steven Schumacher this season.

Just over half a decade ago, the club underwent what is, undoubtedly, the biggest rebuilding job in its entire history, having spent between 2018 and the summer of 2019 staring extinction in the face due to Ken Anderson's financial mismanagement.

Whilst Wanderers were ultimately saved by current owner, Sharon Brittan, the punishment of a 12-point deduction in 2019/20 saw the club fall from the Championship to League Two in successive years, with the appointment of Ian Evatt marking the start of a new era.

It would be fair to say that an initial loan agreement with West Ham proved to be an astute addition in the long run, although those in Greater Manchester could still feel a tinge of regret given Dapo Afolayan's recent exploits.

Dapo Afolayan was a shrewd signing from West Ham by Ian Evatt at Bolton Wanderers

Initially joining the club on loan in January 2021 as the Whites looked to make amends for a slow start to the campaign, Afolayan went on to make 12 appearances in the fourth tier for Evatt's men. The winger's performances often went under-the-radar as Bolton rode the crest of a wave, eventually sealing an immediate return to League One on the final day of the season against Crawley Town, in which he scored his first for the club.

The North West side then landed a significant transfer coup when his deal was made permanent on a free transfer, with Afolayan going on to terrorise opposition defences in League One with a tally of 12 goals and four assists in 44 games as Evatt's side massively improved post-January, ending the campaign in ninth place.

With the 2022/23 season seeing several players enter their first full season at the club, such as James Trafford, Dion Charles, Aaron Morley and Kyle Dempsey alongside a strong core of pre-existing players, big things were expected at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Afolayan didn't have the greatest of individual impacts, it must be said, yet after a tally of three goals and two assists in the first half of the season, he would move to-then Bundesliga.2 side St Pauli for just £500,000.

Despite "Freibeuter der Liga" sitting bottom of the German second tier at the time, Afolayan has gone on to prove that maybe the Whites should have held out for a stronger fee, regardless of making an initial profit.

His influence was key in seeing the Hamburg side to safety after moving in January 2023, before going on to accumulate 13 goal contributions in 31 league appearances in his first full season at the Millerntor Stadion as St Pauli returned to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2011.

The Londoner's output in terms of goals and assists may have dried up since then, but he has remained very much a regular member of the squad as St Pauli were able to consolidate in the top flight last term, before continuing to have a key role in the 2025/26 campaign.

Despite this, we could have seen the 28-year-old return to the English game in the summer of 2025, with the likes of Blackburn Rovers, West Brom, Leicester City and Swansea City all interested in striking a deal.

No doubt it would have hurt Bolton fans to see Afolayan potentially rip up the Championship, but they will be just as frustrated that they only received a minimal fee for his services in hindsight.