CONFIRMED – Wolves’ most expensive summer transfer signings ever – including £44m talisman and £35m flop

Wolves’ Biggest Ever Transfer Splashes: Hits, Misses and What They Tell Us

Wolverhampton Wanderers have made a habit of taking calculated risks in the transfer market over the past eight years in the Premier League. Some have paid off handsomely, others — not so much. As Vitor Pereira gears up for another campaign in charge, it’s worth looking back at the club’s five priciest signings to see what they delivered for all that outlay.

Nelson Semedo – £27.5m

When Semedo arrived from Barcelona in 2020, he was a statement signing for a club with European ambitions. Quick, technically tidy and dependable, he soon became a regular fixture. Over five years, he’s clocked up 182 appearances — more than he managed at any other club. Wolves fans took him to heart, and being named club captain is no small feat for a big-money import. Yet his future is now in doubt, with contract talks stalling. As Pereira looks to steady the ship, losing the captain could be a bigger blow than any transfer fee. Still, for a player who’s become so central, Wolves can argue it was “money well spent”.

Raul Jimenez – £32m

Few strikers have made such an instant impact at Molineux as Jimenez. His move from Benfica was sealed permanently in 2019 after a prolific loan spell. At his peak, he was unplayable — hitting 30 league goals across two top-flight seasons and helping Wolves to back-to-back 7th-place finishes. The horrific head injury he suffered in 2020 changed everything. Despite returning, he was never quite the same, eventually moving on to Fulham. Yet those electric years still linger in the memory. Even a sceptic would admit: £32m for two unforgettable seasons wasn’t a bad deal.

Fabio Silva – £35m

The signing of Silva at just 18 raised eyebrows — and, in hindsight, the concerns were justified. Billed as a generational talent from Porto, he mustered only four Premier League goals in his debut campaign. Loan stints at PSV, Anderlecht and Rangers followed, but he’s never quite convinced that he’s ready to lead the line for Wolves. With one year left on his deal, the best outcome might be a sale to claw back some of that £35m. “Reintegration into the Wolves squad looks unlikely,” as one club source admitted, underlining that this gamble has yet to pay off.

Matheus Nunes – £38m

Nunes’ brief spell sums up Wolves’ smart wheeling and dealing. Signed for a record fee from Sporting CP, he only managed one league goal — but what a goal it was, a cracking volley against Chelsea. A year later, he forced a move to Manchester City for £53m. Fans might grumble about how it ended — “a sour taste in the mouth,” some said — but pocketing a £15m profit after just one season is good business, no matter how you slice it.

Matheus Cunha – £44m

Cunha stands as Wolves’ most expensive signing ever — and their priciest sale too. The Brazilian made an immediate impact after joining from Atlético Madrid, scoring 12 league goals in his first full campaign. Last season, he stepped it up, bagging 15 and being voted Players’ Player of the Season before sealing a £62.5m switch to Manchester United. “At one stage he had a goal of the month competition against himself,” as fans joked. For a player who genuinely lit up Molineux, it’s hard to argue this wasn’t money well spent.

As Wolves enter another season hoping to balance ambition with sustainability, these deals are a reminder that spending big isn’t just about the splash — it’s about what you build after the ripples settle.