Wolverhampton Wanderers Summer Transfer Window 2025: Priorities, Top Targets, Budget Breakdown & Most Likely Signings

 

 

As Wolverhampton Wanderers prepare for their eighth consecutive Premier League campaign, the club faces a pivotal summer transfer window that could define their season. Despite narrowly avoiding relegation in 2024/25—finishing 16th after a turbulent year—there is a shared understanding among supporters and decision-makers that significant reinforcement is required to prevent a repeat battle for survival.

The appointment of Vítor Pereira helped steady the ship after a rocky period under Gary O’Neil, but the Portuguese tactician now faces the challenge of rebuilding a squad that has lost key personnel and appears thin in several crucial areas.

Major Departures Leave Gaps to Fill

Wolves enter the summer needing to fill more than just one or two holes. The club has already bid farewell to several high-profile names:

• Matheus Cunha, a vital attacking figure last season, has been snapped up by Manchester United.
• Rayan Aït-Nouri, one of the most exciting attacking full-backs in the league, made a big-money move to Manchester City.
• Veterans Nelson Semedo, Pablo Sarabia, Craig Dawson, and Tommy Doyle have also exited Molineux, significantly weakening the squad’s experience and depth.

These departures not only reduce Wolves’ first-team quality but also put pressure on the recruitment department to act quickly and decisively in the market.

Incoming Transfers: A Tentative Start

So far, Wolves have been relatively quiet. Their first confirmed signing of the summer came in mid-June with the acquisition of Fer Lopez, a promising 21-year-old winger from Celta Vigo. The Spaniard adds youthful flair to the frontline, but he’s far from the finished product and will likely need time to adjust to Premier League intensity.

The club also made good on their option to permanently sign Jorgen Strand Larsen, the Norwegian striker who impressed with 14 league goals during his loan spell last season. The £25.3 million deal is seen as a priority move, locking in a player who has quickly become central to Wolves’ attack.

Who’s Next? Transfer Targets and Key Areas

With major exits already confirmed and more potential departures on the horizon, Wolves are reportedly pursuing reinforcements across the pitch. Here’s a look at some of their current targets and transfer priorities:

• Attacking reinforcements: Wolves are still targeting offensive players, with Evann Guessand (OGC Nice) and Romulo Alberto (Göztepe SK) both on the club’s radar. Also linked is Wallace Yan de Souza Barreto of Flamengo, while former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is being monitored as a proven Premier League option.
• Left-back replacement: Following Aït-Nouri’s move to Manchester City, Wolves need a capable successor. Although Hugo Bueno has returned from loan, the club wants competition in that position. David Moller Wolfe of AZ Alkmaar is one of the names being seriously considered.
• Midfield addition: With Tommy Doyle gone and others potentially on the way out, Wolves are keeping tabs on Nicolas Raskin from Rangers as a midfield reinforcement.

Transfer Budget: Complex but Manageable

On paper, Wolves have made over £100 million through player sales across the last two windows, but the financial situation is far from straightforward. A large chunk of the money from Cunha’s sale will arrive in three instalments, and only around £20 million is expected to be available this summer.

Additionally, the Aït-Nouri deal sees 50% of the fee going to his former club, Angers, meaning Wolves only retain half of the proceeds from that sale.

Nevertheless, Pereira should have a modest but workable budget, particularly given the club’s efforts to lower the wage bill—offloading high-earners could result in an estimated £200,000 per week in salary savings, freeing up further room for signings.

Squad Priorities: Four Key Areas

Wolves must strengthen in at least four key positions this summer:

1. Right-Back – With Semedo gone, they need a new first-choice option with Premier League experience or top-flight potential.
2. Left-Back – Aït-Nouri’s departure has left a significant creative void.
3. Attacking Midfield / Number 10 – Pereira wants someone capable of linking play and supporting Strand Larsen.
4. Striker Depth – Even with Larsen’s signing made permanent, Wolves may move for another forward—especially if Calvert-Lewin becomes available.

Portuguese Core to Grow?

Vítor Pereira has signalled interest in adding more Portuguese-speaking or Brazilian players, in part to maintain harmony within the existing dressing room, which already features a strong Iberian and South American influence. The manager is thought to be targeting several players from his native Portugal who can quickly adapt both culturally and tactically.

The Road Ahead

As things stand, Wolves’ transfer window is still in its early stages. But with multiple key departures already confirmed and more expected, the pressure is mounting on the club to act swiftly. Pereira has made it clear that he expects reinforcements—and that his squad, in its current form, is not equipped to improve on last season’s nervy 16th-place finish.

Whether the board delivers the players he needs, and whether they arrive in time to integrate before the new campaign begins, could define Wolves’ 2025/26 season—and determine whether they remain a Premier League side for a ninth consecutive year.