Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Chiquinho. (REUTERS/Ian Walton)
Should Wolves fans be worried? It’s starting to look that way.
After a tough 2024/25 campaign — one that only saw them escape relegation following the late-season appointment of Vítor Pereira — Wolves’ summer hasn’t exactly sparked confidence either.
Yes, the permanent arrivals of Jørgen Strand Larsen, who netted 14 goals last term, and young forward Fer López from Celta Vigo offer some promise. But departures have far outweighed incomings.
Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri have departed for Manchester United and Manchester City respectively, while Pablo Sarabia has moved to Al-Arabi SC.
Tommy Doyle has joined Birmingham City on loan, and both Craig Dawson and Nelson Semedo have exited as free agents — though a return for Semedo is still under discussion, but far from guaranteed.
And now, Wolves have confirmed yet another exit — their 10th in total of the window.
Chiquinho Departs for Portugal
On Wednesday, Wolves announced that winger Chiquinho has left Molineux on a permanent deal, joining Portuguese second-tier outfit FC Alverca.
Once hailed as “promising” by club legend Steve Bull, Chiquinho joined Wolves in January 2022 and made 11 first-team appearances — most of them coming during his initial spell under then-boss Bruno Lage.
He made his debut on his 22nd birthday against Norwich, and featured in nine Premier League matches in the second half of that season. One of his most memorable contributions came in May 2022, when he assisted Conor Coady’s dramatic late equaliser away at Chelsea.
However, his momentum was halted by a serious knee injury in the summer of 2022, which sidelined him for the entirety of the following season. In 2023/24, he was sent on loan to Stoke City and later Famalicão.
Last term, Chiquinho featured against Arsenal on the opening day and in a Carabao Cup win over Burnley — his final outing for Wolves — before heading on loan to RCD Mallorca.
Though his time at Molineux was ultimately disrupted by injury and inconsistency, Chiquinho showed flashes of flair and promise — and leaves as Wolves continue a summer rebuild that’s becoming increasingly drastic.
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