Posted on January 26, 2012
By Michael Lewis
TropiGol.com Editor
For Tim Ream, it was practically love at first sight.
In fact, Ream had such a passion to join Bolton Wanderers that he decided to postpone his honeymoon for a while after he was married in St. Louis on Jan. 8, waiting for the paperwork to get finished.
When he first trained with the club, the 24-year-old Ream he felt right at home.
As of Thursday morning, Ream can call Bolton his home club as the deal went through. The New York Red Bulls and Major League Soccer agreed to a transfer fee for the central defender. Ream has agreed to a contract, earned visa approval in the United Kingdom and passed a physical. According to Bolton, it is a three-year deal.
“I’d been waiting for a bit of paperwork to be completed and getting the work permit sorted was a huge relief,” Ream was quoted on the club’s website. “I’m just delighted to be here and I’m glad I have been given this opportunity.
“From the first day here I really felt comfortable. The gaffer said that I had nothing to prove and it was a chance to get to know the guys and the coaching staff and that put me at easy from the very beginning. Even before that week I aimed to challenge myself in England and if an opportunity arose I wanted to come over and try to come and make it here. Once that week was over I definitely had a better understanding of what it takes to play at this level.”
Ream was married for a day when he received a phone call from Bolton, asking him to cancel his honeymoon and come to England.
“As much as we were disappointed that we had to pass up the trip, I think we both knew it was in our best interests,” he said. “Hopefully, it shows my commitment to being here and doing well here.”
Ream said his bride took a little more convincing.
“I can’t really repeat what she said,” hesaid. “But her and I have talked, and as long as we’re together in whatever we do I think both of us will be happy. She wants the best for me, and I just want her to be happy.
“If she says tomorrow that she wants something, then I guess I’ll have to give it to her.”
Depending on whom you believe, the transfer fee was either $3.8 million, according to British media reporters or $2.5 million, according to U.S. soccer sources.
Regardless, Bolton manager Owen Coyle welcomed Ream to the club with open arms.
“First and foremost we are absolutely delighted to secure Tim’s services,” he told the Bolton website. “He is a U.S. international, a player that year on year has progressed and got better, and he will continue to do that. He was trailed by a number of clubs, including West Brom and also Arsenal, who tried to sign him in the summer, so it is great that he sees his future here.
“Tim is everything that we want in the players we are bringing to the club when we spend in the transfer market. He is young, has a tremendous attitude and a winning mentality. I know he will fit in well with the rest of the squad here at Bolton.”
Ream certainly hoped so.
He felt making seven appearances with the U.S. National Team and performing at the MLS all-star game and at the Emirates Cup last summer allowed him to showcase his talents to a greater audience.
“Now to have those matches week in week out will make me a better player all-around,” Ream said. “Competing in the top league in the world can only help a player.
“I’ve always been a pretty good condition, even when I have taken a few weeks off == that’s forte. But I do have a couple of weeks to go before I am in tip-top game shape. The team is in a good run of form right now and I’m just looking to contribute in any way that I can.”
Ream will be allocated No. 32 the rest of the season.
In a statement released by the Red Bulls, Ream thanked the team and its supporters.
“I want to thank the Red Bulls and their fans for their tremendous support over the past two years,” he said. The club gave me an unbelievable opportunity to play in Major League Soccer and I would not have been in this position without the team and league’s backing. I will always cherish my memories playing for New York,” Ream said. “This was a hard decision for me considering the fact that I enjoyed playing for the Red Bulls and was looking forward to the upcoming MLS season. However, after consulting with those closest to me, I decided that this was a once in a lifetime chance that I could not pass up.”
Red Bulls general manager and sporting director Erik Soler wished Ream well in his new venture.
“We are extremely happy for Tim. He has worked very hard since he joined Major League Soccer and became a Red Bull and we firmly believe that this opportunity will be beneficial to him and the Red Bulls,” Soler said in a press release that was released on early Thursday moring. “This was a difficult decision for us as a club, but at the end of the day, we could not turn down this opportunity to help Tim’s development as a player. He has become a mature professional during his time here and we will fully support him as he moves to Bolton. He will always be welcome at Red Bull Arena.
“While we will miss Tim and his contributions both on and off the field, this deal also presents us with a significant amount of financial flexibility heading into the 2012 MLS season. We are confident that we will be able to add quality players that will strengthen the squad to help us towards our goal of winning MLS Cup this year.”
Photo: Tim Ream has joined Bolton Wandrers on a 3 1/2-year deal on Thursday. Andy Mead/YCJ
Categories: National Team, North America, U.S.A.
Tags: Bolton Wanderers, English Premier League, New York Red Bulls, Owen Coyle, Tim Ream
Loading ...
