John George McAtee

John McAtee came on in the 72nd minute of the 2026 EFL League One Play-off Final and set up Sam Dalby's goal in Bolton's 4-1 win over Stockport County, which took the club up to the Championship.

Released by Liverpool's under-9s, then by Manchester United, and after six months at Burnley by them as well, he joined Shrewsbury Town's academy in 2015. He made his senior debut there in April 2017 and signed his first professional contract that June. Loan spells at Halesowen Town, AFC Telford United, Ashton United and Curzon Ashton followed. In July 2019 he moved to Scunthorpe United, where he made 49 appearances and scored four goals.

His breakthrough came at Grimsby Town, whom he joined in June 2021 after turning down a new contract at Scunthorpe. In 2021–22 he scored 14 league goals and was named both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year at the club. In the National League play-offs he scored in the semi-final and in the final, and Grimsby went up.

Luton Town signed him in August 2022, but he spent both of his seasons there on loan. He returned to Grimsby for 2022–23, playing 26 times and scoring four goals, and then went to Barnsley, where he made 40 appearances and scored 12 goals in 2023–24.

Bolton Wanderers signed him in August 2024 on a three-year contract. In his first season he scored 11 league goals and 12 in all competitions.