They had been there before, of course, and fans will recall the heady days when Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshere used their time with the Whites as a stepping stone for their own career.
Loaning out young stars from higher up the pyramid is not without its risks, but in Trafford and Bradley Bolton had got it spot-on. Their time at Wanderers had a tearful end in play-off semi-final defeat but the impact that regular football had on their progress can be seen by their exalted stature today.
Since they left the building there have been 12 more loan players who had hoped for a similar leg-up, and this summer Bolton have already been linked with a handful of goalkeepers who could follow the same route as Trafford to the Toughsheet Stadium.
Did Wanderers just go to the well too often? Or were the hit-and-miss loanees symptomatic of the erratic recruitment results that stalled the club last season?
We look back at the successes and failures.
Owen Beck has had success since leaving Bolton Wanderers, with Dundee and BlackburnOwen Beck has had success since leaving Bolton Wanderers, with Dundee and Blackburn (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth)
Owen Beck – Liverpool
Let’s be brutally honest, it was difficult to forecast the upward curve that Beck’s career would eventually take based on his nine-game stint at Bolton.
A close pal of Conor Bradley, and then only a Wales youth international, Beck cut short a difficult loan in Portugal to give some cover at left wing-back, and never quite looked physically ready for League One.
After returning to Anfield, however, Beck went out on a much more successful loan at Dundee and then last season got rave reviews for his time in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers.
Dan Nlundulu earned a permanent move to Bolton after a loan from SouthamptonDan Nlundulu earned a permanent move to Bolton after a loan from Southampton (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth)
Dan Nlundulu – Southampton
Not exactly helped by the comparisons to Ivan Toney made by Ian Evatt after he had scored his only goal in 15 appearances on his initial loan, Nlundulu has struggled to win over the doubters even after his move was made permanent.
He wasn’t helped by injuries, managing 28 games and five goals in his only full season before being shipped out to Cambridge United, where he managed five in 30.
There are plenty of coaches who have worked with Nlundulu who feel he has the potential to be a dangerous player, but Bolton are yet to see him get close to that level.
Luke Mbete had an uncomfortable loan spell from Manchester CityLuke Mbete had an uncomfortable loan spell from Manchester City (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth)
Luke Mbete – Manchester City
Came to join his Manchester City team-mate Trafford in January 2023 but never quite clicked, managed nine starts and scoring once, against MK Dons.
Mbete hadn’t covered himself in glory in a short stint at Huddersfield Town in the Championship and though his time at Bolton started with two 5-0 victories, it never really ignited.
He fared better on loan in Holland with Den Bosch the following year and then signed for Northampton Town in League One. But the centre-back picked up a hamstring injury against Bolton, and has only made 14 appearances for the Cobblers so far.
Shola Shoretire was expected to be a game-changer for Wanderers when he arrived from Manchester UnitedShola Shoretire was expected to be a game-changer for Wanderers when he arrived from Manchester United (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
Shola Shoretire – Manchester United
Wanderers were convinced they had landed a game-changer when they brought Shoretire but the youngster – who had been around the first team at Old Trafford for a good 12 months – flattered to deceive in a white shirt.
The diminutive number 10 played 16 times for Bolton and scored once, and while it is unfair to say he never sparkled, his performances were simply too inconsistent to keep him in the team.
After another year knocking around at United he moved to Greek champions PAOK Salonika and will be playing in Europe again next season.
Zac Ashworth scored some important goals for Bolton but couldn't nail down a place in the sideZac Ashworth scored some important goals for Bolton but couldn't nail down a place in the side (Image: CameraSport -)
Zac Ashworth – West Brom
Loaned for the 2023/24 season, Ashworth can make a claim to be one of the more successful loans on this list, having turned out 23 times in all competitions.
He scored three times, a free-kick against Barrow on his debut, a fantastic lobbed finish at Carlisle and a vital equaliser against Barnsley, but never quite found favour under Ian Evatt either as a left wing-back or in the middle of the park.
Wanderers passed on the chance to sign Ashworth permanently, leading to a move to Blackpool where he made 13 appearances before being loaned out again to Ross County.
Paris Maghoma has arguably been the most successful loan since Trafford and BradleyParis Maghoma has arguably been the most successful loan since Trafford and Bradley (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth)
Paris Maghoma - Brentford
Not all the loans since Trafford and Bradley have been a failure, and Maghoma is a definite outlier, even if it did take him a few months to show his true colours.
Injuries hampered his early days with Wanderers but a goal in victory at Wycombe in October 2023 sparked a transformation in fortunes. His confident dribbling skills and ability to drive past players and create chances was a quality much-missed last season.
After eight goals in 50 games, the ankle injury Maghoma picked up in the play-off final left him playing catch-up at Brentford and unable to go out on loan elsewhere. Thankfully, he recovered to make a Premier League debut in December at Aston Villa.
Loanee Nat Ogbeta scored on his debut against Carlisle UnitedLoanee Nat Ogbeta scored on his debut against Carlisle United (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
Nat Ogbeta – Swansea City
Added in January 2024 to bring a bit more dynamism to the left side of the attack, Ogbeta made an immediate impression with a goal on debut at Carlisle United.
He made 17 appearances in all for Bolton and scored again in the 5-0 rout of Oxford United at the Toughsheet Stadium – but his defensive frailties were a concern, something which was highlighted in devastating style against the same opposition at Wembley.
There had been concern over Ogbeta’s injury record but his spell with Bolton was enough to earn him a move to Plymouth in the Championship, racking up 20 games and scoring once. He will be back in League One with the Pilgrims this season.
Caleb Taylor struggled with minor injuries during his time with the WhitesCaleb Taylor struggled with minor injuries during his time with the Whites (Image: CameraSport - Andrew Kearns)
Caleb Taylor – West Brom
Eager to reduce some pressure on Ricardo Santos and Eoin Toal, Taylor was brought in on loan in January 2024 with a very good reputation, tipped to be a regular starter with the Baggies before much longer.
You could see he had the tools to be successful but, like so many at Bolton, fitness issues left him unable to show his best form and he left after making just seven appearances.
His consistent performances in two stints at Wycombe last season are a frustrating reminder of the player Wanderers ‘could’ have had.
Liverpool's Calvin Ramsay started only two games on loan with BoltonLiverpool's Calvin Ramsay started only two games on loan with Bolton (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
Calvin Ramsay – Liverpool
The £6million full-back was quite literally following in Bradley’s footsteps but his time with Wanderers went badly wrong.
The warning signs were there after a spell at Preston was ended abruptly and concerns voiced over his fitness. Bolton took the former Aberdeen man on in January and his only two starts lasted 61 and 45 minutes, respectively.
Things didn’t exactly improve on loan at Wigan the following season – a move that yielded 12 appearances, five of which were starts. Ramsay then joined Kilmarnock and heads back to Anfield look at an uncertain future.
Jay Matete showed flashes of promise in his time at Bolton on loan from SunderlandJay Matete showed flashes of promise in his time at Bolton on loan from Sunderland (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
Jay Matete – Sunderland
The first, and arguably most successful of last season’s loan pack, Matete motored through 45 appearances for the Whites and scored three times.
The midfielder had been recruited to fit a system which was abandoned a month into the new season and though he was by no means a failure, he very rarely looked like he was in favour with all options fit and available.
Matete has another year at Sunderland but their promotion to the Premier League means he will most likely be sent out on loan again. Could he suit the more high-energy, counter-punching style favoured by his former Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher?
Cardiff City loan striker Kion Etete had a disastrous debut against ReadingCardiff City loan striker Kion Etete had a disastrous debut against Reading (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
Kion Etete – Cardiff City
It may be recency bias, but it is hard to recall a loan move that went so wrong, so quickly at Bolton Wanderers.
Etete was hand-picked by Ian Evatt and Chris Markham to provide some physicality at the top end of the pitch but his fitness record over the previous year-and-a-half already provided some red flags.
And so it went: A penalty conceded on debut, a thigh injury a few days later, a glaring miss at Lincoln after his return, and another injury reported to the medical staff which ruled him out of the last few games.
Etete is currently due to be back in League One with Cardiff next season.
Alex Murphy entered into a chaotic situation when he came to Bolton in JanuaryAlex Murphy entered into a chaotic situation when he came to Bolton in January (Image: CameraSport - Rich Linley)
Alex Murphy – Newcastle United
Signed by Ian Evatt, who left his post a matter of days later, it is little wonder the Irish defender never quite settled in his four-month spell in League One.
Thirteen appearances and two goals wasn’t a terrible return but a few glaring errors also left the Bolton supporters a little lukewarm, and he did look like a left-sided centre-half playing as a full-back or wing-back for him time at the club.
It would be interesting to see if Murphy fares better in a more stable and positive environment if he is sent out on loan again.