The pair have signed three-year deals for undisclosed fees to become manager Gary Megson's third and fourth signings of the summer.

The Trotters have also brought in Sean Davis after his contract expired at Portsmouth and also defender Paul Robinson from West Bromwich Albion.

Centre-back Knight, who has won two England caps, joined Villa in the summer of 2007 from Fulham in a £3.5m deal but struggled for regular first-team football, starting just 13 Barclays Premier League matches last season.

Wales international Ricketts, who can play on the left or the right of a back four, started 27 of the Tigers' Barclays Premier League fixtures in their debut season in the top flight.

international recognition

The six foot six inch Knight has eight years of Premier League experience having gained promotion from Division One with Fulham back in 2001.

The former England U21 international made a total of 181 appearances for the Cottagers before moving to Aston Villa in August 2007 where he marked his debut with a headed goal against Chelsea.

The 29-year-old has also received full international recognition with England, earning caps against USA and Colombia in 2005.

Knight is now the fourth member of the Bolton Wanderers squad to have joined the club from Aston Villa, following Jlloyd Samuel, Gavin McCann and Gary Cahill.

Ricketts was a mainstay in the Hull City defence last season, helping to preserve the Tigers' Barclays Premier League status after their debut season in the top-flight.

The Aylesbury-born man made his Football League debut in 2000 with Oxford United, accumulating a total of 48 appearances for the club. Whilst with the Us, Ricketts also enjoyed a short stint on loan with Nuneaton Borough before later moving to Telford United on a permanent deal.

Impressive displays eventually earned a move to Swansea City in May 2005 and it was at Vetch Field where Ricketts established his reputation during a three-year spell.

A move to Hull City followed in July 2006 and within two seasons he had played his part in securing the club's promotion to the Barclays Premier League for the first time in its history.

In total, Ricketts made 129 appearances for the Tigers. He is also a regular member of the Welsh national squad and currently has 34 caps to his name.

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