Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Stade de Reims captain Emmanuel Agbadou on a four-and-a-half-year deal with an additional 12-month option.
The Ivory Coast international defender becomes the first signing under Wolves’ new manager, Vitor Pereira.
Agbadou, a commanding 6ft 4 defender known for his composure on the ball, arrives at Molineux after two-and-a-half impressive seasons in Ligue 1, a statement on the club website noted.
It was titled, “Wolves Complete Agbadou Signing.”
His journey to the Premier League has been marked by consistent performances and leadership, culminating in his captaincy at Reims last summer.
The 27-year-old began his professional career in Tunisia with Monastir before making 64 appearances in the Belgian Pro League with Eupen. His move to France saw him establish himself as a stalwart in the Reims backline, where he made 15 appearances this season and bowed out with consecutive clean sheets against Strasbourg and Monaco in December.
Agbadou’s contributions have not gone unnoticed on the international stage. He has become a key figure for the Ivory Coast, starting in five of their six Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as the Elephants secured their spot in the tournament later this year.
Wolves’ Leadership
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi expressed his excitement about the acquisition.
He said, “We’re delighted to welcome Emmanuel to the club. He’s a player our recruitment team have watched for a long time, and Vitor agreed that he was the right player and the right character to strengthen our squad now.
“It was important we completed the transfer early in the window to help Vitor straight away, and, like all transfers, this one took a lot of hard work from a lot of people. I hope Emmanuel has a successful career at Wolves, and he’ll have the full support of everyone during his time here.”
Sporting director
Sporting director Matt Hobbs highlighted Agbadou’s qualities that make him a strong fit for the Premier League.
“Emmanuel’s a winner and he’s driven. After the journey he’s had, he’s still unbelievably hungry. He’s the type of player the Wolves fans should love, because you’re going to get absolutely everything he’s got.
“On paper, he should suit the Premier League. There’s plenty of ticks there. Obviously, you’ve always got the settling-in period, and it is the hardest league in the world, so it can take time, but he can fall back on his key attributes being akin to the Premier League.
“The fact that he was on ours and Vitor’s lists shows that he’s well-rounded, good on the ball, physically excellent, quick, and a good personality. Then being made captain of Reims has really taken his game to the next level, and you can never have enough leaders,” he stated.
Hobbs emphasised the urgency of securing Agbadou early in the window.
“When Vitor came in it’s the first conversation we had, to add one quick. There are so many games in January, so you can’t afford to waste a month. We have to use this month to be as efficient as possible, and we’re really excited about this signing,” he added.
