As the door closes on transfer deadline day for the summer of the 2025/26 season, in a window that very much splits opinion between Wolves fans, let’s take a look back at our best deadline day signings from the last ten seasons.
6. Alfred N’Diaye
Although N’Diaye only signed on a season long loan in the summer of 2017, many fans can recall his strength and stamina that he brought to the middle of the park during our promotion season. Recording three goals and two assists in 1,706 minutes for the club, the majority of which came from off-the-bench appearances, N’Diaye’s energy and ability to win crucial duels were sometimes overlooked: yet they played an important role in controlling games that defined our season. Personally, I would describe Marshall Munetsi as the current day Alfred N’Diaye – their ability to play multiple positions whilst never seeming to tire, adds much needed depth to a squad.
5. Benik Afobe
Although he achieved much more in his first spell at the club, Afobe rejoined Wolves on loan from Bournemouth in the winter transfer window of the 2017/18 season. Brought in to rotate with Leo Bonatini, who faced a goal drought from Christmas until the end of the season, Afobe scored six goals in 698 minutes, securing our promotion. However, after triggering the option in Afobe’s loan deal to make his signing permanent in the summer of 2018, Wolves allowed the striker to leave on a six-month loan followed by an obligatory permanent purchase to Stoke City just 12 days later, preventing Afobe from climbing any higher on this list.
4. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
Signed from Strasbourg on deadline day of summer 2023 for a reported £12.8M, Bellegarde has proven his worth with his ability to play as both an inside forward and in the centre of midfield. Recording four goals and eight assists in 2,759 minutes, his place in the starting XI has not always been guaranteed. He made 35 appearances last season, scoring a beautiful strike away against Nottingham Forest, showing us the technical ability he possesses. At 27 years of age, Bellegarde still has potential to fulfil – fans will be hoping that he can step up to another level this season to replace the creativity of the likes of Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia.
3. Max Kilman
Breaking into the squad a year after signing from non-league Maidenhead United, the English centre back spent six years at Wolves, joining for just £40,000 on the deadline day of summer 2018. Making his full debut against Pyunik in the Europa League, Kilman went on to make 127 appearances for Wolves, becoming club captain in the 2023/24 season under Gary O’Neil. Kilman was then sold to West Ham United last summer for a fee of £40M, increasing his value by 1000 times in just six years, during which time he scored 3 goals and helped keep 28 clean sheets.
2. Andre
What some fans may define as a “world class” number 6, Andre has proved crucial to our squad. Andre has formed an exceptional partnership with fellow Brazilian Joao Gomes, allowing Gomes to press higher up the pitch whilst Andre sits back, controlling the tempo of the match. A hard worker, winning tackles all over the pitch, Andre has already lived up to and exceeded the expectations of his £18.5M price tag that Fluminense accepted on deadline day. Andre’s passion has made him a fan favourite in a very short period of time, with it now becoming a question of whether Wolves will be able to keep him at the Molineux in the coming seasons.
1. Jonny Castro Otto
Whilst Jonny indeed joined Wolves in the summer of the 2018/19 season on loan, Jonny’s move to the Molineux was made permanent on deadline day of the following transfer window for £18M. Making 134 appearances for the club, Jonny was crucial to our back-to-back 7th place finishes in the Premier League, including our Europa League journey, recording 11 goal contributions in total. Unfortunately, Jonny suffered 2 ACL injuries during his time at Wolves, from which he never truly recovered, as he could not reach the form that he sustained consistently under Nuno. There was also controversy leading to his exit from the club, but what fans remember the most was his incredible partnership formed on the left with Diogo Jota.
Written by Oliver Desai
