Wolves’ season has not gone well so far.
The Old Gold are struggling going forward, and they also look shaky in defence. Before the Brighton clash, they averaged 2.1 goals conceded per game.
The arrival of Ladislav Krejci has shored things up over the last few weeks, and top performances against Everton and Tottenham have provided hope for a turnaround.
Vitor Pereira has said he won’t gift players starts, but one Wolves defender has been great since coming into the side.
He also leads his competition at Molineux in a key stat.
Santiago Bueno is leading Wolves centre-backs in possession won per 90
Santiago Bueno was out of the pecking order at the start of the season, but he has since forced his way back into Vitor Pereira’s plans.
Bueno scored his first goal for the club against Tottenham last week, and now it seems he is set to stay as part of the defence for the foreseeable future.
His partnership with Ladislav Krejci looks to be solid, and it is one the Old Gold can build from throughout the season.
Now, the latest data is showing the Uruguayan is doing something a lot more often than the other Wolves centre-backs.
Bueno is leading them in possession won per 90.
| Player | Possession won per 90 |
| Santiago Bueno | 9.3 |
| Matt Doherty | 8.5 |
| Emmanuel Agbadou | 8.23 |
| Ladislav Krejci | 5.66 |
| Toti Gomes | 5.5 |
Additionally, despite playing just 242 minutes, Bueno is actually performing on par compared to last season. In 2024/2025, he averaged 8.65 possessions won per 90.
This highlights that his numbers are not down to a small sample size. In fact, Bueno is 6th in possession won per 90 across all Premier League centre-backs this season.
The Uruguayan is quickly becoming a key player, and teammate Hugo Bueno believes he is outstanding.
Santiago Bueno is undroppable right now
Santiago Bueno believes Wolves’ turnaround in form is down to a change in attitude; however, his ability to win the ball back for the Old Gold is also a key asset.
The 26-year-old’s partnership with Krejci seems to be a revelation, and it looks hard for the other central defenders at the club to force their way back in.
The surprising drop-off from Emmanuel Agbadou has given Bueno a chance to shine, and so far he has exceeded expectations.
Right now, he is one of the first names on the teamsheet so let’s hope his displays in the Old Gold can remain as consistently good as they have been in the last week.