Wolves have completed the signing of exciting young defender Sebastian Lochhead from Dundee.
The highly-rated centre back will initially link up with Richard Walker’s under-18s, having made the move from north of the border.
Lochhead, 16, has been on the radar of the Old Gold for a while and is a player who made his senior debut in Scotland at just 15.
Although yet to make his first league appearance, Lochhead has featured on the bench in every game for Dundee in the Scottish Premiership this campaign and was with the first-team squad throughout pre-season.
Now, the teenager has arrived at Compton Park to continue his development with Wolves and head of international youth recruitment, Harry Hooman, has explained the type of player the club are getting.
“Seb’s someone we've been monitoring for a long time now and he’s really impressed us playing for Dundee’s 18s,” Hooman said. “Towards the end of the season he got in and around the first-team group and has been with them throughout this pre-season.
“He’s very much a modern day centre back - very composed and calm with the ball. His use of the ball's very good, he’s got a good range of passing and steps in well, but also has all the physical attributes and tools that we look for in terms of our profile as a centre back. We’re excited to see him develop over the next few years.”
Hooman says the club were quick to recognise Lochhead’s talent and have conducted a detailed recruitment process to ensure that the move was going to be right for all parties, and one that has a clear plan in terms of progression and moving through the ranks.
“We're always aware of other clubs that are watching him and interested,” Hooman continued. “What’s been good is we were at the table quite early, which I feel like the player and the family have recognised. We've done a lot of groundwork on him, knew him really well as a player, but also from character references and in terms of what he's like as a personality as well because that's such an important thing for a 16-year-old who’s going to move down from Scotland and away from home.
“In the short term, he’ll come into the 18s group and be around that group, and then hopefully he can progress and work his way up to the 21s. As with any young centre back, there will potentially be loans down the line and that will probably be a big part of his development as well.
“With any new player, especially when you're moving at 16, there's no rush. We want to make sure we give him time to settle and progress his way through the club.”
