Bolton Wanderers signing Tim Ream admits he owes former New York Red Bulls teammate Thierry Henry for helping him get his move.

Ream could have been stepping out at The Reebok for Arsenal, he admitted, after impressing Henry.

"Thierry definitely tipped them off about me after visiting London last summer," he said. "He likes to look out for young players, and he wanted me to have the best opportunity to showcase my abilities. But New York wanted to keep me for a second year, and, much as it sounded like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I might not have been playing all that regularly, had I joined Arsenal.

"Now I have finally made it to English football, and it is a great feeling that everything is set in stone. Bolton felt right, from the moment I sat down with the manager, and I can't wait to get started."