Wolves got the ball rolling with their transfer business on Thursday morning after unveiling the signing of Emmanuel Agbadou.
The need for Vitor Pereira to sign a defender was pressing and he will feel delighted to have secured the signature of the highly-rated Ivory Coast international.
Wolves captured Agbadou from Reims on a 4.5-year contract, keeping him at Molineux till the summer of 2029 while setting a high bar for the rest of the window.
The 27-year-old rose to prominence as one of the most complete defenders in France’s top-flight. Agbadou ranked third for most successful long passes in Ligue 1 for Reims this term, evincing his qualities as a ball-playing defender.
Agbadou is also physically a beast, too, standing at 6 foot 4 with a giant frame built to deal with any opposition attacker that stands in his way.
The above attributes are ultimately why Pereira identified the Ivorian as his top target but there is another quality that he doesn’t currently have in his squad.
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Emmanuel Agbadou will bring leadership to Wolves
Matt Hobbs was delighted with the transfer of Agbadou, praising the centre-backs winning mentality and his drive to succeed in every environment.
Agbadou will also bring a high level of leadership to Molineux. The powerful defender captained Reims for most of this season, with the experienced defender set to offer Pereira captain-like qualities along with his pace and strength.
“I’m a fast player. For a defender, my body is very weird sometimes for someone. I’m a player who likes to play football, I’m strong also, and I’m a leader in the defence,” he told the Wolves official website.
“I think I can use this leadership for this team, and the coach told me about that also, it’s for that I’m here, so I can help him with my leadership.”
Wolves have had leadership problems since Ruben Neves left the club in 2023. Max Kilman, who succeeded the Portuguese midfielder as captain, was never made for a leadership role.
Mario Lemina replaced Kilman in the summer of 2024 after he joined West Ham. It would end in disaster, though, as Lemina was stripped of his captaincy after being involved in a scuffle, ironically against the Hammers.
Nelson Semedo then succeeded Lemina as captain in December, with Gary O’Neil choosing the 31-year-old to represent the club moving forward.
However, he may also have a short tenure in the role as Agbadou’s arrival could pave the way for a new captain.
Agbadou looks like a future Wolves captain
Semedo, whose contract expires in June 2025, may not have a long time left at Molineux.
Although Wolves want to give Semedo a new deal, the experienced right-back is one of the club’s highest earners.
It means there is a possibility the Portugal international could leave on a free transfer in the summer. Regardless of whether he leaves, Agbadou’s profile places him as a strong contender to become the new Wanderers captain.
Having experienced being in the role at Reims and flourishing, Pereira could favour his new signing assuming the armband later down the line.
Indeed, if he sets the standard with his performances on the pitch and showcases his leadership attributes, there is no reason why the Ivorian shouldn’t be in with a shout.
Wolves fans may get to see their new signing in action this weekend as Agbadou is available to play against Bristol City in the FA Cup.