Emmanuel Agbadou
Ivory Coast international defender Emmanuel Agbadou became Wolves’ first signing under Vitor Pereira when he moved to Molineux in January 2025.
The centre-back had spent the previous two-and-a-half seasons playing consistently in Ligue 1 for Stade de Reims, while also captaining the club for the first half of the 2024/25 season.
A dominant defender standing at 6ft 4, but also comfortable in possession, Agbadou began his professional career in Tunisia with Monastir, before turning out 64 times in the Belgian Pro League with Eupen.
It was in France where his career trajectory continued, and having been a regular in Reim’s defence, Agbadou took the captaincy responsibilities in the summer of 2024.
Recognition from Ivory Coast increased during his time in northern France and during the latter months of 2024, he started five of their six Africa Cup of Nations fixtures, as his country qualified for the major tournament.
Agbadou was an ever-present for Reims, making 15 appearances in the 2024/25 season and bowed out with back-to-back clean sheets against Strasbourg and Monaco in December, before completing his move to Molineux during the January transfer window.
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Agbadou was not part of the Ivory Coast’s national side during his junior years, but received his first senior call up just days before his 24th birthday, as he was in the squad for a 0-0 friendly draw against Ghana in June 2021.
The defender earned his first cap later in the October of 2021, replacing Serge Aurier in the final seconds of a 3-0 World Cup qualification win over Malawi. He lined up alongside former Wolves centre-back Willy Boly for the final 45 minutes of a 3-0 defeat to England at Wembley a year later, but has now become a regular in the Ivorian team.
Since March 2024, the centre-back has started all but two of his country’s matches and scored his first international goal in a 4-0 win over Chad in Africa Cup of Nations qualification in November that year.
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12 Agbadou
