Bolton sign Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Southampton on contract until 2029

Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has joined Bolton from Southampton, bringing the 24-year-old to the Championship club on a contract running until 30 June 2029.

The Dublin-born goalkeeper has moved after returning to Southampton from a loan spell at Stoke City. Bazunu spent the second half of the 2025-26 season with Stoke, having joined them on loan in January before returning to his parent club at the end of the campaign.

His arrival at Bolton adds a goalkeeper with experience of promotion and relegation during his time at Southampton. He was part of the Southampton side that won promotion to the Premier League in the 2023-24 season, after the club had been relegated from the top flight the previous year.

Bazunu joined Southampton from Manchester City’s under-21 side in July 2022 for €14m. Before that move, he had developed within City’s academy system and spent time on loan at Portsmouth and Rochdale. His spell with Portsmouth came during the 2021-22 season, while he had previously featured for Rochdale in the 2020-21 campaign.

The goalkeeper began his senior pathway at Shamrock Rovers, joining Manchester City’s under-18 team in February 2019. He had entered the Shamrock Rovers academy from Rovers Academy the previous year.

Bazunu also spent part of the 2024-25 campaign away from Southampton, joining Belgian club Standard Liege on loan in February before returning to England in April. His Southampton career has therefore included temporary spells in both the Championship and Belgian top flight as well as his time with the club’s first team.

He is listed at 1.88m and is naturally right-footed. Bazunu holds Irish and Nigerian nationality, and his move to Bolton keeps him in the Championship after Southampton and Stoke both competed in the division during the 2025-26 season.

Bolton have secured Bazunu’s services through the end of June 2029, with the transfer completed on 28 August 2026.