Wolves sign Reims defender Agbadou for £16.6m

Emmanuel Agbadou’s £16.6 million signing from Reims has been completed by Wolves.

The 27-year-old centre-back has signed a four-and-a-half year deal at Molineux, with the option of an extra 12 months, and becomes Vitor Pereira’s first signing at the club.

Additionally, it puts an end to Kevin Danso’s interest for Wolves, who had made the switch to Agbadou.

“Emmanuel’s a winner and he’s driven”, said Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs.

“After the journey’s had, he’s still unbelievably hungry. You’re going to get absolutely everything he’s got, so he’s the kind of player Wolves fans should enjoy.

” 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”.

Since converting Max Kilman to West Ham last summer for £40 million, the Premier League strugglers have been looking for a defender despite losing Yerson Mosquera to a season-ending knee injury in September.

After joining Belgium side KAS Eupen in 2022, Ivory Coast international Agbadou has spent the last two and a half years at Reims.

He made 76 appearances, scoring three goals, for the Ligue 1 club and leaves with the French side 11th, eight points adrift of the top four.

Following Monday’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, Agbadou joins Wolves and moves them out of the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference.

They have conceded 45 goals, a league high, but have scored 31, the eighth best in the division.