Former Red Raider men’s soccer athlete James Bolger (’23) has signed a contract to play professionally with Bodens BK in the Swedish Division Two league.
A three-time All-GPAC selection at Northwestern, Bolger played 68 games over four seasons, scoring 18 goals with seven assists from the midfield. Bolger had seven game-winning goals between 2019-22, sitting tied for sixth in the program’s record book. After his time at Northwestern, Bolger started all 15 games as a graduate transfer at NCAA Division I Longwood University (Va.).
“We knew from the day James arrived on campus that he was a special talent,” Northwestern head coach Dan Swier said. “He ended his career at Northwestern as one of the top players to ever wear Raider Red. He led the team to a conference title and could fill a trophy cabinet with all of his individual accolades. It comes as no surprise to me that he has caught the eye of a professional coaching staff, and I am excited to see what transpires during his time in Sweden. I hope that it is just the start of a long and illustrious career.”
Bodens BK has a history of being one of the top teams in Sweden. In the early 2000s, the club played against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds, and Southampton. Currently, Bodens BK is a member of the Swedish Division Two, with goals of moving back into Division One for the first time since 2022.
