Dan Nlundulu hopes his loan move to Cambridge United will help rebuild his confidence after a frustrating spell at Bolton Wanderers.
The 25-year-old striker was finding form at Bolton, scoring three goals in three consecutive games, before a torn hamstring sidelined him last December.
Reflecting on his time at Bolton, Nlundulu expressed optimism about a fresh start at Cambridge after making his debut in the 3-3 draw against Bromley in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. He came on for the final 30 minutes in his first appearance since joining Cambridge.
Nlundulu revealed that before making the switch, he consulted former Bolton teammate Elias Kachunga.
“Me and Kacha got on really well together at Bolton,” he told Cambridge United’s YouTube channel. “I spoke to him before coming in and he said how good of a club it is – well organised, good manager, good guys as humans first and also as players. That motivated me to come here.”
Leaving Bolton wasn’t just about football; Nlundulu also cited personal reasons for the move south. “It is a wonderful place to live and brings me back near home. Obviously, I was up north and it was a long way for the family to travel.”
Nlundulu first signed a contract with Southampton, having been part of their youth system. He made his senior debut in October 2020, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 Premier League victory against Everton. A few months later, he scored his first goal for the club in an FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town in January 2021.
Nlundulu’s development continued through several loan moves, starting with Lincoln City in 2021, where he scored his first goal against Wigan Athletic. After being recalled by Southampton in January 2022, he immediately joined Cheltenham Town on loan until the season’s end. He returned to Cheltenham on loan again in 2022, before making a switch to Bolton Wanderers in January 2023.
Though cup-tied as Bolton won the 2022–23 EFL Trophy, Nlundulu showed enough promise to earn a permanent transfer to the club in June 2023 for a reported fee of £300,000. His move was seen as a key step in his career progression, but injuries limited his impact at Bolton, leading to his current loan.
Cambridge United, currently struggling in League One, hope Nlundulu can help turn their season around.
Site Opinion
Dan NLundulu will be hoping for a chance to get regular minutes, and resurrect what was once a promising career. Things took a bit of a nose dive at Lincoln, where he came in to replace Brennan Johnson but got injured as soon as he landed.
Injuries have plagued him ever since, and he needs a spell of regular games to make an impact again. At 25, he’s no longer a promising youth, but instead a player who should be in his prime. Perhaps a move closer to home will help him realise the potential he showed as a young man on the south coast.
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