Jack Bonham

Jack Elliott Bonham (born 14 September 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Bolton Wanderers.

A product of the Watford academy, Bonham spent time on loan at non-League club Harrow Borough, before transferring to Brentford in June 2013. After failing to break into the team, he spent much of his later career with the club away on loan, before transferring to Gillingham in 2019. Following two seasons as the Gills' first-choice goalkeeper, he transferred to Stoke City in 2021. After slipping out of the first team picture by 2024, Bonham transferred to Bolton Wanderers in 2026. Although born in England, Bonham represented the Republic of Ireland at U17 level.

Club career Watford 2010–2012 Bonham signed a scholarship deal with Watford in June 2010, but quickly signed his first professional contract three months later, having just turned 17. Due to first team goalkeeper Scott Loach incurring a suspension, Bonham won his maiden call up to the first team squad on 26 November 2011, when he was an unused substitute during a 0–0 Championship draw with Doncaster Rovers. He made the first senior appearance of his career the following day, conceding two goals in a 2–2 draw with Bury Town. On 14 March, the loan was extended by a further month. He made 9 appearances for the club and failed to keep a clean sheet. which cost Watford the chance of automatic promotion to the Premier League. After the match, Watford manager Gianfranco Zola refused to blame Bonham for his actions. Bonham was not called into the matchday squads during Watford's unsuccessful playoff campaign.

Brentford

2013–14 season and loan to Arlesey Town On 12 June 2013, Bonham signed a two-year contract with League One club Brentford on a free transfer. He made his debut for the club in a League Cup first round tie at home to Dagenham & Redbridge on 6 August, in which Brentford ran out 3–2 extra time winners. His second appearance came in the following round away to Derby County, in which he endured a torrid evening as the home side cruised to a 3–0 lead before half time, eventually winning 5–0. he conceded four goals as Brentford lost 4–0. Joining on 15 November 2013, he made his debut the following day in a 2–0 FA Trophy third qualifying round victory over Marlow. Bonham was recalled on 8 February 2014, after making 19 appearances.

2014–15 season Following Brentford's promotion to the Championship, a persistent shoulder injury suffered by Richard Lee saw Bonham serve as backup to David Button through the 2014–15 season.

2015–2017 Bonham had a nightmare start to the 2015–16 season, conceding four goals on his sole appearance against Oxford United in the League Cup first round on 11 August 2015. Despite the departure of Button on 19 July 2016, Bonham entered the 2016–17 season as second-choice behind new signing Dan Bentley. He made his first appearance of the season in a 1–0 EFL Cup first round defeat to Exeter City on 9 August 2016. He made his second and final appearance of the season with his first Brentford start in a 1–1 draw versus Barnsley on 17 April 2017 and won the club's man of the match award for his performance.

2017–18 season and loan to Carlisle United Bonham signed a one-year contract extension in June 2017, which would keep him at Griffin Park until the end of the 2018–19 season. He spent the entire 2017–18 season away on loan at League Two club Carlisle United. Bonham's performances in January 2018 saw him nominated for the PFA League Two Fans' Player of the Month award and he finished the season with 49 appearances. He had an impressive start to his time with the club and was reported on 15 October 2018 to have "the best save percentage of any first-choice goalkeeper in England so far this season, with 91.5%". Bonham finished the season with 46 appearances.

Gillingham On 4 June 2019, Bonham signed a two-year contract with League One club Gillingham on a free transfer, effective 1 July 2019. He made 89 appearances during two mid-table seasons with the club and departed Priestfield after rejecting a new contract at the end of the 2020–21 season.

Stoke City On 28 June 2021, Bonham signed a two-year contract with Championship club Stoke City. He failed to win a call into a matchday squad until 20 November 2021, when he was promoted to the substitutes' bench due to first-choice goalkeeper Josef Bursik suffering a torn thigh muscle. Bonham backed up second-choice goalkeeper Adam Davies until January 2022, when he assumed the starting role. Bonham largely held the starting spot through to the end of the 2021–22 season and finished the campaign with 17 appearances. Bonham signed another one-year contract extension in November 2023. Behind successive loan signings Mark Travers and Daniel Iversen in the pecking order, Bonham made 16 appearances during a mid-table 2023–24 season. Despite the presence of Viktor Johansson restricting Bonham to just two cup appearances during the 2024–25 season, he signed a further one-year contract extension in May 2025.

On his first appearance of the 2025–26 season, He made one further EFL Cup appearance before transferring out of the club on 14 January 2026. During years with Stoke City, Bonham made 64 appearances. for an undisclosed fee. He made 24 appearances during the remainder of the 2025–26 season and was the starting goalkeeper in the 2026 League One playoff final victory,

International career Bonham won five caps for the Republic of Ireland U17 team in 2009 and 2010. In October 2018, it was reported that the full Republic of Ireland team were considering calling up Bonham, due to his club form for Bristol Rovers. Championship

2012–13 Championship

1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0 0!!1!!0 Harrow Borough (loan) 2011–12 Championship

2015–16 Championship

2016–17 Championship

2017–18 Championship

2018–19 Championship

2!!0!!1!!0!!4!!0!!0!!0!!7!!0 Arlesey Town (loan) 2013–14 Southern League Premier Division

Carlisle United (loan)

2019–20 League One

2020–21 League One

Championship

2022–23 Championship

2024–25 Championship

2025–26 Championship

2025–26

2026–27 Championship

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Honours Bolton Wanderers EFL League One play-offs: 2026