Nelson Semedo has proven to be a pretty good signing for Wolves.
The full-back arrived in the summer of 2020 after a few years at Barcelona, and there was excitement about his signing.
Although there was that one performance he gave against Bayern Munich that saw Alphonso Davies give him the run-around, Nelson Semedo had a good reputation, and Wolves fans were pleased the club got him.
Semedo struggled a little in his first season at Wolves as he acclimatised to the Premier League.
But he’s gotten better and better since, and in 2024/25 Semedo had his best season, and was named the Players’ Player of the Year.
Recently, it’s been suggested Semedo is likely to leave Wolves when his contract expires in the summer.
And it’s possible he could depart with one big regret.
Nelson Semedo could leave Wolves without playing European football, something he targeted in 2022
Semedo was brought in by Wolves with the intention of improving the squad further.
It was a squad that had finished seventh twice in a row in the Premier League, and a squad that played in the Europa League in the 2019/20 season.
Wolves finished 13th in Semedo’s first season under Nuno Espirito Santo, and then Wolves finished 10th under Bruno Lage.
That season under Lage was a very interesting one, with Wolves very much in contention to secure European football around February and March.
But the club fell away with a string of poor results under Lage, leading to Semedo to admit in an interview with the E&S in 2022: “We were so close and had a great year. Nothing will erase our year, because we had a great season and had a chance to be in the Europa League or higher.
“But we have to look forward. We will try to improve the little things for next season and do even better.
| Nelson Semedo for Wolves (2020-present) |
| Appearances – 173 |
| Goals – 3 |
| Assists – 10 |
“It has to be the target (to return to Europe). We’ve proved we can be there.
“We had some opportunities to win games and be there but unfortunately we couldn’t, but we look forward and will work harder to be better next season and do even better.”
That season remains the closest Wolves have come to returning to a European competition.
In his first interview with Wolves after signing, Semedo also talked up Europe, admitting he was targeting finishing in the top six.
With Semedo now set to leave, the full-back looks like he could be departing Molineux with a big regret.
- READ MORE: What Nelson Semedo admitted upon leaving Benfica is a warning sign for Wolves amid transfer links
Semedo set to leave Wolves
At the moment, the suggestion is that Semedo will be departing Wolves this summer.
Benfica have shown interest in Semedo recently.
Semedo is one of the highest earners at the club, and there is a feeling that he and another big earner, Pablo Sarabia, could be allowed to leave to release the wage budget a little.
Semedo leaving would be a big blow, as he really has proven himself to be a great wing-back.
Hopefully, young Pedro Lima will further his development in the coming months and potentially be in a position to succeed Semedo long-term.