George Johnston (footballer, born 1998)

George Thomas Johnston (born 1 September 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers. Born in England, Johnston represents Scotland at youth international level.

George Johnston

Personal information
Full name	George Thomas Johnston[1]
Date of birth	(1998-09-01) 1 September 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Manchester, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Bolton Wanderers
Number	6
Youth career
2008–2019	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2021	Feyenoord	4	(0)
2021	→ Wigan Athletic (loan)	22	(1)
2021–	Bolton Wanderers	86	(3)
International career‡
2018	Scotland U20	1	(0)
2019–2020	Scotland U21	10	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:33, 16 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:40, 7 June 2021 (UTC)

Career

Liverpool

Johnston came through the Academy at Liverpool, making one first-team appearance in a preseason friendly against Torino at Anfield in August 2018.^[3]

Feyenoord

In August 2019, he moved to Feyenoord on a permanent deal.^[4] Feyenoord paid Liverpool £300,000, and the deal included a 30% sell-on clause.^[5]

Wigan Athletic (loan)

On 22 January 2021, Johnston joined League One side Wigan Athletic on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.^[6] He scored his first goal for Wigan in a 3–0 win against Milton Keynes Dons on 6 March 2021.^[7]

Bolton Wanderers

On 4 June 2021, Johnston returned to League One, this time joining Bolton Wanderers on a three-year deal.^[8] He turned down Wigan to join Bolton.^[9] His competitive debut came on 7 August in a 3–3 draw against Milton Keynes Dons, where he made a goal line clearance.^[10] On 2 April 2023, he came on as a substitute in the 2023 EFL Trophy final against Plymouth Argyle. Bolton went on to win 4–0.^[11] On 8 July, Johnston suffered an injury in a pre-season friendly at Bamber Bridge and three days later the club confirmed that he was likely to miss the whole of the following season.^[12] In spite of this, on 1 August, Johnston signed a new deal taking him up to 2026.^[13]

International career

Johnston has represented Scotland at under-20 and under-21 level.^[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 5 October 2024^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Feyenoord	2019–20	Eredivisie	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
	2020–21	Eredivisie	4	0	0	0	—		0	0	4	0
	Total		4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Wigan Athletic (loan)	2020–21	League One	22	1	—		—		—		22	1
Bolton Wanderers	2021–22	League One	43	2	1	0	2	0	2[a]	0	48	2
	2022–23	League One	36	1	0	0	2	0	7[b]	0	45	1
	2023–24	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2024–25	League One	7	0	0	0	3	0	2[a]	0	12	0
	Total		86	3	1	0	7	0	11	0	105	3
Career total			112	4	1	0	7	0	11	0	131	4

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
2. Five appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in League One play-offs

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

• EFL Trophy: 2022–23^[11]