Wolves under-21s defender Oliver Tipton has completed a permanent move to Solihull Moors, bringing an end to his nine-year spell at the football club.
Tipton, 20, first joined the academy as an 11-year-old and has progressed through the ranks at Compton Park, but now departs his boyhood club for the National League.
The versatile centre back, who can also play in midfield, got his first taste of men’s football last season during a loan spell with Notts County, where he made seven appearances for the League Two outfit.
He now moves into the fifth tier of English football and to the Moors, who were runners-up in the play-off final and FA Trophy final after finishing fifth under Andy Whing last season.
Following Tipton’s departure, academy manager for football Jon Hunter-Barrett said: “Oliver’s a player who has been with us for a very long time. He came to us at the end of under-11s and has been with us the whole way through so around 10 years.
“He’s a local boy, a Wolves fan. Now it’s time for him to go and kickstart his career in the National League.
“We’re always looking to produce players first and foremost for our football club. If we’re not able to do that, we look to support them with being equipped and ready to go for the wider game. This is an example of where we’ve been able to do that for him.”
A captain, leader and strong personality throughout his time in Old Gold, Tipton has led by example on and off the pitch, and Hunter-Barrett has praised the impact he has had across almost a decade at the club.
“He’s brought a lot to our environment with who he is as a person,” Hunter-Barrett continued. “He comes from a football family and as a leader, that’s something he’s done right the way through to where he is now. That’s something I know he’ll be able to use in his career moving forward.
“It’s a good step for him to go and start his career in men’s football. It’s an environment where you’re playing to win every week and the academy is a little bit different to that in that sense.”
Everyone at Wolves would like to thank Oliver for his efforts throughout his nine years at the football club and wish him the very best for the future.
