Wolves sold their second player of the summer yesterday, with Rayan Ait-Nouri joining Manchester City.
The move had been on the cards for the past few weeks, and the move started to really accelerate last weekend.
Ait-Nouri completed his Man City medical at the weekend, and his transfer was then announced yesterday evening.
It is a big blow for Wolves to lose a player of Ait-Nouri’s quality, especially after already losing Matheus Cunha.
Ait-Nouri made the most contributions of any Premier League defender in 2024/25, and his creativity will certainly be missed.
And it seems that Ait-Nouri will just be missed in general, with a number of players sending messages to the Algerian following the news of his move.
Matheus Cunha and others send messages to Rayan Ait-Nouri as move from Wolves to Man City is confirmed
Ait-Nouri was very expressive on the pitch.
Off it, he was a more reserved character, but someone who was very popular in the dressing room.
The 24-year-old was close to the likes of French speakers Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi, and also had a good friendship with Joao Gomes.
Ait-Nouri’s popularity in the Wolves dressing room was clear for all to see last night, as players sent messages to him on social media.
- Rodrigo Gomes – ‘Good luck my brother 🙏🏻❤️❤️’
- Nelson Semedo – ‘Enjoy my brother told u that your level ❤️’
- Toti Gomes – ‘King!! Merci pour tout frere 🥺❤️👑 (Thank you for everything brother)’
- Emmanuel Agbadou – ‘Merci pour tout frérot (Thank you for everything bro)’
- Tommy Doyle – ‘My guy 🥹🩵’
- Jose Sa – ‘Good Luck my friend 💪🏼💪🏼’
- Tom King – ‘Mon garre 😢 (My claw)’
Matheus Cunha, who is also no longer a Wolves player of course, commented saying ‘MERCI mon frerot ❤️🔥 🇩🇿’, which translates to ‘THANK YOU my brother’.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde says Wolves have lost the best left-back in the Premier League
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde also reacted to news of Ait-Nouri’s departure last night.
As well as commenting on Ait-Nouri’s farewell Instagram post, Bellegarde took to X to say: “Thank you for everything my brother the best left back of PL.”
Bellegarde has called Ait-Nouri the best left-back in the Premier League before, and now he will get the chance to elevate his game under Pep Guardiola.
Ait-Nouri has the potential to become one of the best left-backs in the world.
And Wolves fans will not begrudge him realising his potential at another club, after being a really good servant for the past five years.