Wolves have exercised the option in Nelson Semedo’s contract, securing the defender’s services at the club for the next two seasons.
The experienced right-back arrived in the West Midlands during the summer of 2020 and has gone on to enjoy three seasons in gold and black, where he recently celebrated his 100th appearance for the club.
Semedo has been almost ever present in the Wolves defence since he signed at Molineux, playing the majority of his games on the right, while also showing his versatility by deputising on the left of a back four.
During the first two seasons with the Portuguese international in the side, the Old Gold were one of the lowest conceding teams in the Premier League as Semedo combined his defensive skills with an attacking threat, which paid off with his first goal for Wolves coming in the final match of the 2020/21 season against Manchester United at Molineux.
Although a hamstring injury kept him out of action during the latter stages of last season, the 29-year-old was eased back into the team during the current campaign and found his form under Julen Lopetegui, producing a run of impressive displays to coincide with Wolves keeping seven clean sheets from nine home matches.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs is delighted the club have been able to secure two more years of Semedo’s service with the defender a key part of Wolves’ plans going forward.
“We’re really happy for Nelson to remain as part of the pack for another two years,” Hobbs said. “He’s always been an excellent player, but he has really picked up his form since Julen has come in.
“He’s a player who the manager really trusts, so he’s a very important player on the pitch for us, and as a person, his personality and his work ethic also make him a very important part of the squad off the pitch.
“We’re pleased to have got to the point where we can extend Nelson’s contract and look forward to seeing what he will deliver for the team as he thrives once more under Julen next season.”
By exercising the option in his contract, Semedo’s time at Molineux will extend into a fourth and fifth season in gold and black, which Hobbs insists was always the plan – but the focus of Wolves’ Premier League survival had to be a priority before contract talks could begin.
“Nelson’s been incredibly patient during this process, and we thank him for that, because there were a lot of factors going on in the background which have caused us to wait until we could get to this point,” he explained.
“Everybody has seen the massive uplift, not just in the performances, but in everything at the football club since Julen came in, and for us to look at extending contracts, we needed to ensure our Premier League survival, and Nelson understood that.
“Once we were mathematically safe, we were able to start working on the plans we had already set out for next season, which included a situation where we could take up the extension in his contract.
“It was never a footballing delay because his performances since he signed for the club meant we have always wanted him to be here, and he has always wanted to be here for these next two seasons, so it’s a good feeling to finally get to a point where everything is sorted and Nelson’s future here at Wolves is secured.”
In his press conference ahead of Saturday's final home fixture of the season, Lopetegui echoed Hobbs' words, describing Semedo as 'one of the important players at the club'.
“He has great ability and he has improved a lot in the defensive phase,” the head coach said. “He understands if he wants to become a very good player he has to defend really well in the Premier League, above all.
“He has tried to do it, he understands different situations and showed another face in the second part of the season to the first part. The merit is with the player because he worked very hard to show another defensive face.
“Now he is a regular player and that’s why he is going to have a good present and a good future.”
