Oxford United's Ben Davies has signed for Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal, leaving the Kassam Stadium after a season on loan. The 30-year-old centre back was brought in by former head coach Gary Rowett in the summer but struggled to make a real impact, making only 11 appearances across the season. Davies joins Wanderers as their second signing of the summer, signing a two-year deal with the Whites, and will officially join the club in July ahead of the Championship season. The former Liverpool, Birmingham City and Preston North End centre back's contract at parent club Rangers came to end this summer leading Steven Schumacher to bring him to the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Under current Oxford head coach Matt Bloomfield, Davies fell out of favour as the boss opted to play with a back four rather than a five which Davies sometimes featured in under Rowett. Upon joining Bolton, Davies said: "It feels brilliant to be here. "I heard of interest from a few clubs but as soon as I knew Bolton were interested, this was the club I wanted to come to. "It’s going to be exciting times back in the Championship after an excellent year last season. I’ve seen that the average attendance last year was over 20,000 and that was a massive pull for me. "I think my Championship experience can help the team on and off the pitch. I’ve met with the gaffer and I like his outlook on football and how he wants to play. "It’s going to be amazing stepping out in front of our fans, I’ve played here a few times and the atmosphere has always been brilliant.” Davies has played over 150 games at Championship level and has also featured in the UEFA Champions League for Rangers. He made 38 appearances in all competitions and won the Scottish League Cup in his second season but struggled to make a major impact and was loaned out to Birmingham in 2024/25, helping Chris Davies’s side to a record 108-point promotion as champions. The defender's new team recently won promotion to the Championship with a 4-1 League One play-off final win over Stockport County. Wanderers had lost the third tier play-off final two years earlier to Des Buckingham's Oxford in a 2-0 win for United, Josh Murphy bagging a brace to take the U's to the second tier for the first time in a quarter of a century.