Wolves Secure Ivory Coast Defender Emmanuel Agbadou with 4.5-Year Contract
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Wolverhampton, Jan 9 (NationPress) Wolverhampton Wanderers have officially signed Emmanuel Agbadou, the captain of Stade de Reims and a defender from the Ivory Coast, on a four-and-a-half-year contract, with an option for an extra 12 months, as revealed by the Premier League team on Thursday.
Agbadou has transitioned to the Premier League after a successful two-and-a-half-year spell in Ligue 1. The 27-year-old centre-back marks the first signing for the squad under the guidance of head coach Vitor Pereira.
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi expressed enthusiasm for Agbadou's arrival, stating, "He’s a player our recruitment team has monitored for a considerable time, and Vitor concurred that he possesses the right qualities and character needed to bolster our squad at this moment. It was crucial for us to finalize the transfer early in the window to assist Vitor immediately, and like every transfer, this one required substantial effort from numerous individuals."
Standing at 6ft 4, Agbadou began his professional journey in Tunisia with Monastir before making 64 appearances in the Belgian Pro League with Eupen. His career progressed notably in France, where he has been a consistent starter and assumed the captaincy of Reims in the summer.
Agbadou joined Reims from Eupen in the summer of 2022. Since his arrival, he has solidified his position as a regular starter, participating in 14 of Reims' 15 Ligue 1 matches this season and often leading the team.
On the international front, Agbadou made his debut for the Ivory Coast in 2021 and has played a pivotal role in their qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Wolves' sporting director Matt Hobbs stated on the club's official website, "Emmanuel is a winner and highly motivated. Despite his journey, he remains incredibly ambitious. He embodies the kind of player Wolves fans will appreciate, as he will give his all on the field. On paper, he appears well-suited for the Premier League, meeting numerous criteria."
"Of course, there is always a settling-in phase, and this is the most challenging league globally, so it may take time. However, he can rely on his essential attributes that align well with the Premier League."
Currently, Wolves find themselves in 17th place in the Premier League standings, narrowly escaping the relegation zone due to goal difference, having conceded the highest number of goals in the league with 45 goals in 20 matches.
