Any suggestion that Bolton Wanderers might sign Tom Barkhuizen this summer has come to end after he joined League One rivals Derby County.
The 28-year-old has departed Deepdale after his contract at the Championship club ran out. He racked up more than 200 appearances for North End, scoring 38 goals during his time at the club.
Ryan Lowe opted to release the attacker, who can operate across the front three. He became a free agent and can move on to pastures new without a transfer fee.
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Reports emerged suggesting Wanderers were one of three sides interested in Barkhuizen's services. Fellow League One side Derby County and Championship side Rotherham United, who won promotion to the division last season.
But any potential that Barkhuizen might have headed to Wanderers is now over, as he has joined Bolton's new League One rivals the Rams. He becomes interim boss Liam Rosenior's first signing as Derby boss and follows the Rams being successfully taken over by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd.
The attacker has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Pride Park. He has successfully completed a medical with the Rams.
Barkhuizen suffered a disrupted final season at Deepdale owing to injury and illness limiting his time on the pitch. He played 14 times in all competitions last season, without finding the back of the net.
He came through the youth team ranks at Blackpool and played 27 times and scored twice for the Tangerines before departing for Morecambe in 2015. In little over a season with the Shrimps, Barkhuizen scored 17 goals.
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