Wolves announced their first signing of the summer as winger Fer Lopez joined on a permanent deal from Celta Vigo.
It was only last week when news broke that Wolves were interested in Fer Lopez, as one of Jorge Mendes’ clients emerged as a serious option for Vitor Pereira.
Wolves then saw a £19.5 million bid accepted for Lopez, who featured 20 times for Celta Vigo last term and amassed four goal involvements.
On Wednesday, Lopez passed his medical at Molineux ahead of sealing his move to the club and becoming Pereira’s first capture of the summer transfer window.
Now, after officially being unveiled as a Wolves player, the 21-year-old has spoken to the club’s media for the first time.
Fer Lopez’s first words as a Wolves player
After sanctioning the exits of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City, Wolves fans are pleased that there is activity coming from the opposite direction.
Lopez, who has been compared to Riyad Mahrez by his former coach Ryan Owens, is a promising addition to Pereira’s squad.
Although there are reservations surrounding his lack of experience at first-team level and whether he can provide consistent attacking output, the Spaniard can blossom into a quality Premier League player.
Speaking to Wolves’ official website after his arrival was confirmed, Lopez couldn’t hold back his excitement about the challenge ahead.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for my career to play in the Premier League, and I’m very happy,” Lopez said after signing a five-year contract. “Vitor told me he thought I was a good fit in the squad and when it’s a club like this, you have little to think about. The team did very good when Vitor came and I think he is top, so I’m very excited to be with him.
“Jorgen told me that to play in the Premier League and with a team like Wolves, it’s amazing, and that the fans were incredible. He told me that I should come, and that with the gaffer and all the teammates, the style of play was going to be very good. We’re going to play good football, attractive football, and I think I can fit in there.
“To finish seventh in La Liga was amazing and in my breakthrough year, I cannot explain with words, because it was everything I had dreamed of. I played at the Bernabeu twice, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – they were the best atmospheres in Spain and now I want to do the same, but in England.”
What Wolves can expect from Lopez
Wolves’ scouts must have seen a lot of potential in Lopez, as paying around the £20 million mark for a player with limited first-team experience is a bold move.
But much like when the Old Gold captured Rodrigo Gomes last summer, it’s important the fans give the player time to get used to his surroundings.
Gomes is starring for Portugal under-21s at the European Championships and could be ready to take the first team by storm in 2025/26.
That is after he played a sporadic role under Gary O’Neil and Pereira last term. So, with Lopez now the latest youngster to arrive from a foreign league, patience is key for Wolves to see the best of him.
Interestingly, former Molineux hero Dave Edwards has already compared Lopez to Pedro Neto, and hopefully, he can become as good as him.