There has been little to get excited about around Wolves this week, but a done deal for an exciting young winger has been announced.
In the midst of links, rejections and back-and-forth talks, one piece of business has been made official, and while it might not fix any of Wolves’ problems right now, it’s a good one for the future.
Much of the focus this week has been on pre-season concerns and ownership grievances, with many looking at the upcoming campaign with a sense of dread.
But it’s nice to step away from present-day problems and get excited about a potential future star.
Emilio Ballard-Matthews signs professional contract with Wolves
17-year-old Emilio Ballard-Matthews joined Wolves from Watford in 2023, and has been pegged by academy insiders as the next big thing.
At just 15, he was on the bench for Wolves in a Carabao Cup tie against Blackpool. This alone shows how highly thought of he is, and now two years later, he signs his first professional contract with the club.
Speaking to Wolves’ media team for the website, Ballard-Matthews expressed his excitement about the deal, saying: “It’s a really good feeling to sign my first professional contract. I’m really happy and can’t wait to get going.
“Last season I showed glimpses of what I can do, but now this season I’m looking to get a run of games consistently and show what I can do to help the team.”
He has high ambitions for his Wolves career, as he explains: “I’ll try and get into that under-21s team, try and get on the bench a few times, train with the first-team and show what I can do.
“When you see under-18s players going on first-team tours, it makes me realise I’m not far from that.”
Ballard-Matthews will look to follow the path of Mateus Mane
17-year-old Mateus Mane broke through last season, becoming the youngest Wolves player to make a Premier League appearance. An exciting attacking talent, Mane wants to start for Wolves this upcoming season, and given the shortage of attacking options at the club currently, his dream isn’t that far out of reach.
Ballard-Matthews will look at the opportunities afforded to Mane and be reassured that a path to the senior team can be taken despite his age.
For now, his sights are set on the U21 squad, but if he stays fit and continues to progress, we could see the left-winger take to the pitch for Wolves as early as this season.
The number of clubs taking a chance on youth players has increased considerably in recent times. The likes of Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha have proven the old adage, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.