Bolton Wanderers didn’t see what Birmingham City did after Crystal Palace transfer decision | OneFootball

Keshi Anderson went on to have the career which not many Trotters fans may have envisaged

Bolton Wanderers and Birmingham City are two of the most historic clubs in English football, and both will be hoping that the stars align for better fortunes at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in the coming years.

Only last season, the two sides faced off against each other for the first time in seven years after Blues were relegated to League One for the first time since 1995.

They would pick up a 2-0 success over Wanderers at St. Andrew's in October 2024, before Steven Schumacher's side reversed the roles in Greater Manchester in March 2025 with a 3-1 victory, which proved to be the last defeat the eventual EFL's all-time points record holders would suffer in the third tier that particular campaign.

It is fair to say that, whilst both clubs are now financially stable and on a somewhat upward trajectory under their respective ownership groups, it wasn't too long ago that Bolton and Birmingham were often competing against each other in relegation dogfights in the Championship and the Premier League.

Blues' last season in the top-flight would come exactly 12 months before the Whites' own relegation in 2012, with the latter eventually succumbing to a second relegation in three years in 2015/16.

As such, they turned to Phil Parkinson to mould a competitive squad hopefully capable of returning to the second tier at the first time of asking.

Some of the players the experienced boss recruited in the North West are still seen as cult heroes, but it's fair to say that Trotters fans may not have envisaged Keshi Anderson embarking on an extremely solid career in the EFL after his short-lived loan stint from Crystal Palace.

Keshi Anderson had minimal impact at Bolton Wanderers following Crystal Palace loan agreement

Anderson had endured an intriguing career path by the time he moved to Bolton on a short-term basis from the Eagles at the age of just 21 in August 2016.

After being picked up by Palace the February beforehand after previous stints with Watford and Barton Rovers, the winger's only prior senior experience came through a loan with Doncaster Rovers, before a serious knee issue which was sustained in November 2015 kept him sidelined for a lengthy period.

However, Anderson's potential was made clear by Wanderers at the time of his loan move, as a club statement showcased they had fended off strong competition for his services.

Further excitement around his move came when he marked his debut with a goal in a 1-1 home draw against Southend United, but that would prove to be as good as it got for the now-experienced winger with Bolton.

Although the Whites went on to secure automatic promotion later in the season, he would make just seven more appearances for the club - five of which were as a substitute - before seeing his loan cut short in January 2017, subsequently spending the remainder of the season with Northampton Town.

Keshi Anderson's best career days so far have been with Blackpool and Birmingham City

After spending an initial loan, then a permanent stint with Swindon Town, Anderson has enjoyed his best career spells to-date at his two previous employers in the form of Blackpool and Blues.

The winger initially helped the Tangerines earn promotion back to the Championship through the League One play-offs in his first season at Bloomfield Road, before spending two further seasons of mixed fortunes for the club and on an individual level in the second tier.

Despite an injury-hit relegation season in 2022/23, Anderson was picked up by Birmingham on a free transfer by John Eustace in the summer of 2023, although he would fall back into League One with the West Midlands side after a campaign of chaos in 2023/24.

However, he was able to transform his and Blues' fortunes following the appointment of Chris Davies in June 2024, as they coasted to the title.

Despite a raft of big-money signings coming to B9, Anderson's influence was pivotal in the club's 111-point haul as he scored nine goals and posted a further eight assists in 48 matches across all competitions.

Unfortunately for the Luton native, he swiftly became a victim of the club's well-documented ambition, and after minimal minutes and an injury-hit start to the current season, his contract was terminated, allowing Portsmouth to swoop on a free transfer.

With his contract at Fratton Park running until June 2027, we could be in for a similar story yet again as John Mousinho's side are currently in the thick of a relegation battle in the Championship.