Wolves have completed the signing of young forward Fletcher Holman from National League South side Eastbourne Borough.
The 19-year-old will join the under-21s set-up at Compton Park after putting pen-to-paper on a permanent transfer.
Holman becomes the latest academy addition following the arrivals of Matthew Whittingham, Tawanda Chirewa and Dani Angel in the second half of 2023.
An out-and-out number nine and previously of Brighton & Hove Albion, Holman progressed through Eastbourne’s under-18s before being presented with a first-team opportunity at Priory Lane.
He netted 10 goals in just 15 appearances in all competitions for the Sports this season after making the step up and academy manager for football, Jon Hunter-Barrett, believes Holman deserves his opportunity in Old Gold.
“Once again our recruitment team have done a fantastic job in unearthing a talent playing in non-league football who is capable to come into our building,” Hunter-Barrett said.
“The big thing with Wolves is we’re a football club and academy that provides opportunities for players who have been here a long time and also players who have come from a different environment into ours.
“There are different examples of players such as Nathan Fraser who has been here a long time and Tawanda (Chirewa) who has just joined. Tawanda’s had a lot of opportunities to be in and around the first-team environment and he’s been here for six months, so it goes to show that this football club is a place of opportunity.
“The important thing for Fletcher is to embed himself and settle. He needs to get to know the group, get to know the staff, utilise the facilities that are available at a Premier League club and then get himself some minutes on the pitch.”
Head of UK academy recruitment, Harry Hooman, has explained the process behind recruiting Holman and added: “Fletcher’s an exciting young forward and has been playing men’s football at Eastbourne and doing well. He’s their top goal scorer and had the opportunity to get in the first-team and start games.
“We’ve been tracking his progress over the last few months. We’ve been at most of his live games and watching him on video when we’re not there in person.
“He’s impressed us and has done well there. We had the opportunity to bring him in for a few days to have a look and we liked what we saw so we’ve moved quickly. He’ll be a good addition to the under-21s.
“He’s different to some of our lads who have come through an academy pathway. He did start at Brighton and had a spell there before coming out of there at around 14 and he’s been at Eastbourne ever since. You learn a lot from playing men’s football at 18/19 so I’m sure he’ll take a lot from that.
“He’s direct, got good pace and movement. He loves to stretch the game, run in behind and run off defenders – he’s a goal scorer as well. His attitude is excellent on and off the pitch so there shouldn’t be any problems in terms of him settling.
“As a character and person he’s really good so we’re excited to see him get going and hopefully he score goals for the under-21s.”
