91Èȱ¬

Bolton Wanderers have completed the signing of midfielder Jay Spearing from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old impressed during a loan spell with Wanderers last season, playing 39 times and winning the club's player of the year award.

Spearing, who has agreed a four-year contract at the Reebok Stadium, made 55 appearances for the Reds after coming through the academy at Anfield.

"Jay was my top target," manager Dougie Freedman told 91Èȱ¬ North West Tonight.

"He's got the potential to be a very, very good player.

"What I like about him is that he comes in every day with the attitude to get better. At my last club [Crystal Palace] that's what it was all about - the younger players coming through the system and making sure they apply themselves in the right way.

"That's what struck me about Jay - not only was he a fantastic football player with a great pedigree coming from Liverpool, but his hunger and desire to get better was really the thing that struck me."

Spearing, who interested Blackburn before they pulled out of a move, is Bolton's ninth signing of the summer and is included in the squad to face Reading at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.