Bolton Wanderers will have Nahki Wells hope with new arrival: View | OneFootball

Young Bermudian talent Na’im Zuill has joined Bolton Wanderers' academy after previously being involved with the Oldham Athletic youth set-up. Wanderers will hope he can emulate the career of EFL legend and compatriot Nahki Wells.

Bolton are currently gearing up for a crucial League One Play-off Final against Oxford United as they hope to return to the Championship for the first time since the 2018/19 season.

In a much longer-term move for the club, they have signed 14-year-old Na’im Zuill to their academy. The player had been with National League side Oldham Athletic since 2018, but since the club closed their category three academy due to a lack of funding, he chose to continue his youth career at another licensed academy under the elite player performance plan governance.

According to Bernews, the midfielder turned down offers from Premier League and Championship clubs to join the Trotters. Explaining the decision to join Bolton, he said: "I live local to Bolton, and I feel they’re my best chance of making my first-team debut. There are more opportunities for their young prospects."

Zuill started his football at age six with Dandy Town in his native country before moving to England in 2016.

The Bermuda under-15 international has already attended training sessions for Wanderers' under-15 and under-16 sides and will hope that he can emulate the success that other Bermudian players like Nahki Wells and Shaun Goater have enjoyed in England.

Nahki Wells is an EFL legend

Bolton may have got their hands on a real talent in Zuill and can look no further than Football League legend Nahki Wells for a successful Bermudian example.

The 33-year-old, who also started his youth career with Dandy Town, has had a distinguished career in the EFL. Now at Bristol City in the Championship, Wells has played almost 500 games in the Championship, League One and League Two and has scored over 140 goals.

The forward made his EFL debut with Carlisle United in the 2010/11 season. He joined Bradford City the following season, and it was at Valley Parade where he enjoyed some of his best form in England.

Wells scored 53 goals and made 11 assists in 112 games for the Bantams as he helped them to achieve promotion to League One via the play-offs and even make the League Cup final in the 2012/13 season.

He joined Huddersfield Town in January 2014 and eventually enjoyed the second play-off final victory of his career in the 2016/17 season as the Terriers achieved promotion to the Premier League.

The third-top goalscorer in the history of the Bermuda national team made it from League Two to the Premier League, and his story will serve as inspiration to young talent Zuill.

Many players from Bermuda have enjoyed success in England

Bermuda has certainly played its part in contributing to the rich and diverse culture of British football throughout the years. Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne played in the Premier League before the aforementioned Wells.

Bermuda record scorer Goater became a Manchester City legend. He played over 200 times for the reigning Premier League champions and scored almost a century of goals.

Reggie Lambe, Ajani Burchall, Rai Simons, Jonte Smith, Khano Smith and Freddy Hall are all Bermudan players who have made EFL appearances also.

Bermudians have also played their part in the non-league two. Forward Kane Crichlow received plenty of media attention after he scored an astonishing five goals in one game for Bishop's Stortford against Aldershot Town in the FA Trophy.

Zuill's nationality comes with a strong reputation in the English game and Bolton will hope that he delivers and becomes the next Bermudian EFL icon.