Bolton Wanderers Sign Sharples-Ahmed and Inwood to New Deals

• ·       Bolton Wanderers have secured new contract deals for two of their homegrown talents: midfielder Sonny Sharples-Ahmed and defender Sam Inwood.
• ·       Sonny Sharples-Ahmed has signed an extension keeping him at the club until June 2027.
• ·       Sam Inwood has committed to a longer-term deal, extending his stay until June 2028.
• ·       Both players are products of the Bolton Wanderers academy and represent the club’s investment in youth development.
• ·       Sharples-Ahmed made his senior debut in 2023 and has progressed steadily through the ranks.
• ·       Inwood’s new deal reflects confidence in his potential, as highlighted by club statements.
• ·       These new contracts come amid broader team developments and preparations for the 2025/26 season.

As reported by Tom Bowles of The Bolton News, Bolton Wanderers have announced new contract extensions for two academy graduates, Sonny Sharples-Ahmed and Sam Inwood, underlining the club’s continued commitment to developing young talent. Sharples-Ahmed, a central midfielder, has extended his contract until June 2027, while defender Sam Inwood's deal runs until June 2028, reflecting the club’s faith in both players’ long-term potential at the club.

The club’s official website confirmed these new deals, presenting them as an important step for Bolton’s squad stability and youth integration strategies. It stated that Sam Inwood has signed a three-year professional contract extending through the end of the 2027/28 season, while Sonny Sharples-Ahmed’s deal now secures his services for two more seasons after this current one.

Midfielder Sonny Sharples-Ahmed is a product of Bolton Wanderers’ youth academy who signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2023. Having progressed through the club’s B Team ranks, he made his senior debut in an EFL Trophy tie later that year and featured as a substitute in League One by December 2024. His first league start in League One came towards the end of the 2025/26 season. Sharples-Ahmed has also represented Egypt at the U20 level, eligible through his father’s heritage, contributing a promising creative spark to Bolton’s midfield.

Sam Inwood is a defender who has risen through Bolton’s ranks to earn this new contract, signalling the club’s trust in his development. His three-year deal until 2028 suggests that the club envisions him as a key part of their defensive plans going forward.

Bolton Wanderers continue to put emphasis on nurturing their homegrown players, as emphasised by the club’s recent moves. The new contracts for Sharples-Ahmed and Inwood demonstrate Bolton’s intention to build a squad blending youth prospects with experience. These deals reflect a wider trend of securing promising players early to ensure retention amid competitive interest.

As reported by a club statement on BWFC.co.uk, signing these young talents on extended deals highlights the club’s commitment to their progression pathway, aiming to develop players from academy hopefuls to first-team regulars within a supportive environment.

Sharples-Ahmed has shown gradual progression through Bolton's squads. His senior debut came in an EFL Trophy fixture in 2023, quickly followed by substitute appearances in the EFL by late 2024. His creative midfield style has been well regarded, and he is seen as a player with considerable potential for higher league resilience and international recognition through his Egypt U20 caps.

Although Inwood’s detailed stats are less widely reported, his securing of a long-term contract until 2028 indicates the coaching staff’s growing confidence in his abilities and potential impact on the team's defensive fortitude.

Alongside these new deals, Bolton Wanderers have seen a mix of new signings, contract renewals, and player departures as they gear up for the 2025/26 campaign. Notable arrivals include Xavier Simons from Hull City and winger Charlie Warren from Felixstowe & Walton United. Several players have been loaned in and out to balance squad depth.

The club also recently concluded their pre-season friendly fixtures, beating teams such as Orlando Pirates and Preston North End, where both new signees and other squad members had opportunities to impress ahead of the new league season.

While specific quotes from managers or club officials regarding these exact contracts are not widely published, the tone of official announcements and media coverage strongly implies an endorsement of both Sharples-Ahmed and Inwood as players with bright futures at Bolton. The club’s broader youth policy has been highlighted as a foundation stone for sustainable success.

The securement of their contracts is interpreted by football analysts and local journalists as a sign of Bolton’s renewed ambition and belief in their academy’s ability to nurture the next generation.

Sharples-Ahmed’s continued development as a creative midfielder and potential international representative for Egypt underscores his value to Bolton’s squad plans through 2027. With his contract now secured, expectations are that he will push for greater first-team opportunities and consistent performances.

Similarly, Inwood’s long-term deal points to an evolution into a defensive mainstay, expected to contribute regularly over at least the next three campaigns, helping Bolton stabilize and advance competitively in League One and beyond.