Bolton Wanderers have been given a huge boost after confirming that captain Ricardo Almeida Santos has put to paper on a fresh contract at the club until the summer of 2025.
The 26-year-old central defender joined Wanderers in the summer of 2020 and played every single game of the club's promotion season out of League Two. He followed that up with 43 appearances in the recently concluded 2021/22 campaign.
Santos was installed as the club's captain last season following the departure of Antoni Sarcevic to Stockport County. He was crowned the club's players' player of the year at the end of season awards ceremony and has racked up a total of 91 appearances since joining the club.
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The defender's contract had been due to expire in the summer of 2023 and with 12 months left to go before he would have became a free agent. His impressive performances on the pitch had caught the attentions of clubs in the division above in the Championship.
During the campaign the defender had said he wished to focus on the rest of the season and that he does not want to rush into any decisions, though he stressed that he is happy at Wanderers and does not want that to be misinterpreted that he is stalling on making a choice.
Talks have since taken place between the player, his representative and Wanderers boss Ian Evatt. And they have clearly ended productively as he has signed a brand new contract at the club for the next three years.
He joins only Dion Charles, Aaron Morley and new signing Jack Iredale as the players with the joint longest contracts at the club. Santos will now be at the University of Bolton Stadium until the summer of 2025.
Wanderers boss Evatt said: "I think it’s as important as any signing we make this summer. He’s been a massive part of my journey here and this club moving forwards.
“Massive thanks to Sharon and the board for helping us with it. The one thing we’re starting to do now is develop assets on the football pitch and Rico is one of those.
“There’s been lots of interest (in him) but it shows that we mean business, we are doing the right things and can keep our best players. And Rico is definitely one of those.
“The true value of players is how easy they are to replace and, for me, Rico in this team is irreplaceable; the way he defends and his attributes with and without the ball are top class and really important for the way we want to play. It’s a big bit of business and I’m delighted.”
