Deadline Day: Wanderers complete permanent signings of Ryan Delaney & Jacob Mellis

After signing Tottenham Hotspur winger Anthony Georgiou on loan earlier today, Bolton Wanderers have completed two permanent deals on deadline day; Irish defender Ryan Delaney & experienced centre midfielder, Jacob Mellis.

Delaney, 23, has joined Wanderers on an eighteen month contract from Rochdale. The centre back started his career in his native country before being brought to England by Burton Albion in 2016. Keith Hill then brought him to Rochdale in 2018. For the first half of this season, Delaney was sent out on loan to AFC Wimbledon, where he earned plaudits for being an ‘old school centre half.’

Delaney has plenty of experience at this level and it’s encouraging that he’ll be here until the end of next season.

The other new arrival is the former Chelsea academy graduate, Jacob Mellis. The 29 year old has joined Wanderers on a deal until the end of the season.

The midfielder is no stranger to Hill and Flitcroft, having played for the pair at Barnsley & Flitcroft at Bury and Mansfield.

Mellis has played a vast amount of games across the three EFL divisions & is a more attack minded player compared to Luke Murphy and Jason Lowe.

Both these signings have clearly been made with one eye on the future, which is great. If we can tie up some of the current players whose deals expire at the end of the season, we have the makings of a decent team ready for the humongous challenge of propelling this club back in the right direction.