Johnston released by Bolton after Wembley triumph
Defender George Johnston played 49 games for Bolton this season
- Published
Bolton Wanderers' longest-serving current player George Johnston has been released after helping the club gain promotion to the Championship.
Johnston, 27, who captained the side on Sunday as they beat Stockport in the League One play-off final at Wembley, will leave in the summer after five years at Bolton.
The centre-back, who came through the youth ranks at Liverpool before moving to Feyenoord, made 188 appearances for the club.
Right-back Jordi Osei-Tutu, who was also part of the starting line-up at Wembley, is to depart as well.
The 27-year-old made 80 appearances in a two-year stay after arriving from German club Bochum in August 2024.
Midfielder Kyle Dempsey, an unused substitute last weekend, has also been released along with Carlos Mendes Gomes, who spent the majority of the 2025-26 season on loan at Exeter City, as Bolton manager Steven Schumacher gears up for life in the second tier.
He is likely to have to bolster his squad over the summer with loan players Johnny Kenny, Rob Apter, Ibrahim Cissoko, Marcus Forss, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Mason Burstow and Amario Cozier-Duberry all returning to their parent clubs.
Szabi Schon has also completed a permanent move to Hungarian champions ETO FC Gyor after two years with Wanderers.
The 25-year-old Hungary midfielder, who made 44 Bolton appearances, spent last season on loan at Gyor, who have triggered an option to sign him permanently.
