Wolverhampton Wanderers have completed the signing of Emmanuel Agbadou from Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims.
The 27-year-old Ivorian centre-back becomes the first addition to the squad under head coach Vitor Pereira.
Agbadou has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal that contains an option for an additional 12 months.
What did Agbadou say?
“I know one African player [Willy Boly] who played here a few years ago, and I was following the club before, so I know that it’s a good team," he told Wolves' official website.
“I'm a fast player. For a defender, my body is very weird sometimes for someone. I'm a player who likes to play football, I'm strong also, and I'm a leader in the defence.”
No time to waste 💭🗣️ pic.twitter.com/DBULWiVRhR
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 9, 2025
'He should suit the Premier League'
Sporting director Matt Hobbs told Wolves' official website: “Emmanuel’s a winner and he's driven. After the journey’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."
Who is Emmanuel Agbadou?
Agbadou joined Reims from Belgian club Eupen in the summer of 2022. Since then, he has established himself as a regular starter, featuring in 14 of Reims' 16 Ligue 1 matches this season and frequently captaining the side.
Standing at 6ft 4in, the defender offers a strong presence in the air and at the back.
On the international stage, Agbadou made his debut for Ivory Coast in 2021 and has been a key player in their qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
A key signing for Wolves?
Wolves have conceded the highest number of goals in the Premier League, letting in 45 goals in 20 matches. They are in 17th place, out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Yerson Mosquera is sidelined with a serious knee injury, while Craig Dawson, Nelson Semedo and Toti Gomes are also on Wolves' injury list, increasing the need for reinforcements in defence.
Agbadou could make his Wolves debut against Bristol City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
His Premier League debut could come at Newcastle United next Wednesday.
