Key Points
- Leo Graham has rejoined Bury on a permanent, two-year basis after his contract with Wigan Athletic expired at the end of the 2025/26 season.
- The 20-year-old forward made 17 appearances on loan at Gigg Lane last season, scoring five goals and providing four assists before being recalled by Wigan.
- Graham was offered fresh terms by Wigan to remain at the Brick Community Stadium but chose to re-join Bury as Anthony Johnson’s squad prepares for promotion to the NPL Premier Division.
- Graham described the move as “surreal” and said he believes Bury is “the best place for me to continue my development”.
- Anthony Johnson called the signing “incredible” and stated it shows how big Bury is as a football club in non-league.
- Johnson revealed the club had been chasing Graham for four to five weeks and kept the deal quiet while his Wigan contract ran down to June.
- The signing is described as bigger than a “major coup” because Graham turned down a League One contract to play for Bury in the NPL.
- Graham says the club taught him “how much three points means” and the importance of “playing for the badge”.
- Johnson is excited to work with Graham over the next two years and regards the deal as a landmark piece of business for the club.
- The move follows the recent arrivals of James Melhado, Anthony Dudley and George Glendon, with Johnson noting the business had been quiet since those signings.
Wigan (Manchester Mirror) July 01, 2026 – uk/local/bury/">Bury, as reported on the club’s official site, has confirmed that Leo Graham has returned to the club on a permanent basis following his departure from Wigan Athletic. Graham’s contract at Wigan expired at the end of last season, and although he had been offered fresh terms to remain at the Brick Community Stadium, the 20-year-old chose to re-join Bury instead.
The decision comes as Anthony Johnson’s squad prepares for the step up to the NPL Premier Division, with Graham seen as a key part of that project. Graham, who originally came through Bury’s system as a young player, described the move as “surreal” and said he “can’t really put it into words”. He added that he feels Bury is “the best place for me to continue my development” and that the club is “a very special place for me”.
Graham’s loan spell at Gigg Lane last season was highly successful, with the young forward chipping in five goals and four assists in 17 appearances before he was recalled by Wigan. Despite that strong spell and a subsequent offer from Wigan, Graham opted to return to Bury, where he says he “came as a boy and left as a man”.
What Did Leo Graham Say About His Decision to Re-Join Bury?
In an interview with the club site, Graham described the feeling of returning to Bury as “unbelievable” and said it “hasn’t really sank in yet”. He explained that he believes the club is the best environment for his growth, praising the fans, staff and players as part of a “quite a surreal experience”.
Graham reflected on the lessons he learned during his time at Bury, stating that the club taught him “how much three points means” and the importance of “playing for the badge”. He emphasised that Bury is “a special place” and expressed his delight at being back, underlining the emotional connection he has with the club.
His comments suggest that the decision was not purely about competitive level, but also about personal development, identity and the environment he feels most comfortable in. By choosing Bury over a League One contract at Wigan, Graham is signalling that he values the role he can play at Bury and the chance to be a central figure in a promotion push.
How Has Anthony Johnson Responded to the Signing?
Anthony Johnson, Bury’s boss, has said he is excited to continue working with Graham and believes the signing is a major coup for the club. Johnson revealed that the club had been chasing Graham for the last four or five weeks, which explains why the transfer market had been relatively quiet since the arrivals of James Melhado, Anthony Dudley and George Glendon.
Johnson noted that the club had been trying to keep the deal under wraps because Graham had been offered a contract by Wigan while his own deal was set to expire at the end of June. He described the move as “pretty incredible” given that a player who made an impact as a 19/20-year-old on loan is now returning as a major signing on a two-year deal.
Johnson argued that the signing is
“bigger than calling it a major coup for the club, it’s bigger than that,”
because Graham turned down a contract with a League One football club to sign for Bury in the NPL. He said the deal demonstrates how big Bury is as a football club in non-league football and expressed his excitement about working with Graham over the next couple of years.
What Does This Move Signal for Bury’s Promotion Ambitions?
The decision by Graham to reject a League One contract at Wigan in favour of a two-year deal at Bury sends a strong message about the club’s ambitions as it prepares for the step up to the NPL Premier Division. Johnson’s comments highlight that Graham is viewed as a major signing and a cornerstone of the squad for the coming seasons.
Graham’s previous loan spell at Bury, where he made 17 appearances with five goals and four assists, indicates that he already knows the club’s style and expectations. His return on a permanent basis adds experience and quality to an attack that will be crucial in a promotion push.
Johnson’s statement that the signing shows how big Bury is in non-league football suggests that the club is positioning itself as a serious contender in the NPL Premier Division. With Graham committed for two years, Bury will have a stable, motivated forward who is emotionally invested in the club’s success and ready to lead the line in the new season.
Background of the Development
Leo Graham originally came through Bury’s system as a young player before moving to Wigan Athletic, where he spent time in their academy and made a handful of first-team appearances. His loan spell at Bury last season allowed him to re-establish himself as a promising forward, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 17 games before being recalled by Wigan.
Despite Wigan offering him fresh terms to stay at the Brick Community Stadium, Graham opted to return to Bury once his contract expired at the end of June 2026. The club had been negotiating with him for four to five weeks, carefully managing the timing while his Wigan deal ran down, before finalising a two-year permanent deal.
His return is framed by both Graham and Johnson as a development-focused decision, with Graham emphasising that Bury is the best place for his growth and Johnson highlighting the significance of a player turning down League One to play for Bury in the NPL.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Bury Fans and the Club’s Future
For Bury fans, Graham’s return is likely to be met with enthusiasm, given his previous loan spell and his status as a former club player who “came as a boy and left as a man”. His commitment on a two-year deal suggests long-term stability and a player who is emotionally tied to the club, which can strengthen the bond between squad and supporters during the NPL Premier Division campaign.
In terms of the club’s future, sealing Graham’s signing after he turned down a League One contract reinforces Bury’s reputation as a club that can attract and retain quality players despite playing outside the EFL. If Graham continues to develop and replicates his loan-season form, he could become a key figure in Bury’s promotion push and a potential selling point for future transfer opportunities, enhancing the club’s standing in non-league football.
