Wolves confirm first summer signing - 42 days before the window even opens

Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed the option to make Manchester City midfielder Tommy Doyle’s loan permanent has been activated ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old has signed a four-year deal - to begin on July 1, 2024 - after establishing himself as a key player this campaign. With 30 appearances in all competitions including 24 in the Premier League, Doyle has certainly bedded into life at Molineux.

Not only useful for his versatility in the centre of the park but also an impressive passer and a quick-thinker, Doyle has earned the trust of Gary O’Neil, the rest of the squad and the fans. He’s also still nowhere near his potential, which brings plenty of excitement.

The City academy graduate, who was on loan at Sheffield United for the 2022/23 season as the Blades were promoted to the Premier League and reached the FA Cup semi-final, has committed his future to Wolves until June 2028. Wanderers also have an option of a two-year extension.

Sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “We’ve never seen Tommy as a player on loan, and he hasn’t acted like one. He’s gradually earned more minutes and become more important, which I think is an ideal first year. What he offers to our midfield is something different to the others, so there was a huge amount of inevitability to this.

“He buys into who we are as a club and what we’re trying to create culturally within the group. He’s a great player to have for what we’re trying to achieve off the pitch and he gives us so much on the pitch, so he’s the exact type of player I think Wolves should be signing.

“If you look at the type of players we like to sign as a football club, they generally haven’t reached their ceiling yet and have loads more to come. Tommy is a fraction of the player he will become, with the more he gets used to the league and the greater his understanding gets. I’m really excited for now but also his future at Wolves.”