Bolton Defender Completing Medical ahead of Stockport County Move

Bolton Defender Set to Leave for Play-off Rivals

Stockport County has agreed to a deal with league rivals Bolton Wanderers for the services of defender Josh Dacres-Cogley. The right-back is reported to be undergoing a medical with the club today ahead of a permanent move to The Hatters. Dacres-Cogley has faced growing scrutiny from the Wanderers faithful, and a fresh start seems to be an ideal solution for both parties.

Bolton defender Josh Dacres-Cogley is set for a medical at Stockport ahead of his move to Edgeley Park. #bwfc #StockportCounty pic.twitter.com/3H1Jfo3lbG

— Pete O'Rourke (@SportsPeteO) January 14, 2026

The 29-year-old has made 13 appearances in League One this season, starting 11 of these matches and claiming two assists in that time. Mainly known for his attacking output as a wingback, Cogley has faced strong opposition from Jordi Osei-Tutu for his place in the side. Fans have become fond of the Arsenal academy product in that right-back role, despite having spent much of his career as a winger. Quite the kick in the teeth, as far as Dacres-Cogley is concerned.

Strenghts and Weaknesses

The stats have highlighted his defensive vulnerabilities that fans have called out in the past. The Englishman has won under 40% of his defensive duels per 90 minutes this season, among the lowest in the league for his position. It doesn't get much better in the air, winning just over 25% of his aerial duels per 90, less than one per game, while averaging just over one tackle in the same timeframe.

Hopefully people will stop pretending that Dacres-Cogley is good. Tonight has been a perfect example of why we need to get rid.

— Old Man Winter (@OldManWinter999) January 13, 2026

While these are areas of concern, the strengths speak for themselves. If you are looking for a player who can pick out a pass and provide that extra quality to decide a game, then look no further than Dacres-Cogley. He has tallied league-high rates for both successful crosses and successful passes when featuring. If that didn't convince you, then averaging just shy of two chances created per game might just do it.

Overall Verdict - A Good Move?

So, will he be a good addition to the Stockport side? Dave Challinor often sets up his side in a 3-4-2-1 shape that gives the wingbacks the impetus to join in on the attacking play. Meanwhile, Stockport has sufficient coverage in the defensive area ; the trio of Ethan Pye, Brad Hills, and Jack Hunt have proven to be a reliable force at the back. Both that and the fact that midfield duo Oliver Norwood and Ben Osborn are notably both defensive-minded players means coverage will be at a premium for the wingbacks when they wish to venture forward.

Dacres-Cogley will provide strong competition to Jayden Fevrier, who currently occupies the right wing-back role in the Stockport County side. The 22-year-old has failed to provide the quality in the final third that his teammates would be hoping for, ranking among the lowest in the division for successful crosses. The greater concern is his ball retention, averaging just over 16 successful passes per 90, a clear weakness that needs significant improvement if Stockport is to be serious about their playoff intentions.

Overall, we think that this signing is a great addition for Stockport, while Bolton may well live to regret letting go of a player with clear quality. If Challinor and the coaching team can work on the finer margins in the defensive area for Dacres-Cogley, then this may turn out to be the steal of the window come the end of the season.