Bolton and Sheffield United eye veteran Asmir Begovic

Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United are both weighing the possibility of signing free‑agent goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as they finalise their summer transfer plans. The 39‑year‑old former Leicester City stopper is available after his contract expired at the end of last season.

Bolton have ended a seven‑year spell outside the Championship and head coach Steven Schumacher is preparing a squad to avoid a relegation battle next season. The club has already added Gaizka Larrazabal, David Watson and Kyliane Dong to the roster.

Schumacher has publicly stated his desire to bring in further reinforcements before the campaign begins, indicating that the goalkeeper position remains a priority. The club’s existing options include Jack Bonham, Nathan Broome, David Harrington and Luke Hutchinson, none of whom have substantial second‑tier experience.

Sheffield United, under the direction of Chris Wilder, have seen a major overhaul with thirteen players departing this summer, either through contract expiries, loan returns or sales. Notable exits include striker Danny Ings, defender Tyler Bindon and midfielder Andre Brooks.

Wilder’s side aims for a top‑eight finish next season and has identified Begovic as a potential addition, though he would likely serve as a third‑choice keeper behind Michael Cooper and Adam Davies. The club also expects Ivo Grbic to leave, creating a need for a reliable senior option.

According to Darren Witcoop on X, both clubs are evaluating offers for Begovic, who was released by Leicester City after the 2025‑26 season. Begovic’s career in the United Kingdom spans nearly two decades, featuring spells at Portsmouth, Macclesfield, Bournemouth, Yeovil Town, Ipswich Town, Stoke City, Chelsea, Everton, Queen’s Park Rangers and Leicester.

He made 173 appearances for Bolton in North Staffordshire before an £8 million transfer to Chelsea in the summer of 2015. Since 2020 he has played in the EFL with Bournemouth, QPR and Leicester, and acted as a backup in the Premier League with Everton.

Last season he contested the Championship spot with Jakub Stolarczyk at Leicester, making 11 appearances as the Foxes were relegated to League One, suggesting he could return to the second tier. With over 250 Premier League games and more than a hundred Championship matches, the 63‑capped former Bosnia and Herzegovina international brings a wealth of experience.

Bolton supporters note the club’s young goalkeeping cohort may not yet be ready for Championship demands, while United fans accept that Begovic would probably be a third‑choice option but value his mentorship. Ivo Grbic’s loan spell in Turkey indicates he will not be a third‑choice for Sheffield United.

Action images By  James Pennington Published Aug 3, 2026, 9:51 AM GMT+1. James is a Stoke City fan, born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, who graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2025 with a 1:1 (Hons) in Sports Journalism and began his career with Football League World. Add Us Summary Generate a summary of this story Like Like follow Followed Thread Log in Here. Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap.

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