Wolves strike agreement with £60m Nottingham Forest and Arsenal target

Wolves talisman Matheus Cunha has officially put pen to paper on a new contract, supposedly keeping him at Molineux until June 2029.

The Brazilian forward, Wolves’ top scorer in the Premier League this season with 11 goals in 23 appearances, netted the second goal in the Old Gold’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

There were hints from Cunha after the game that he may have decided to stay as, just before he headed down the tunnel, he appeared to make a pen-in-hand gesture in front of Wolves’ sporting director Matt Hobbs. The Brazilian, wearing a beaming smile, then hugged the Wanderers chief.

It turns out Cunha signed his new deal in the immediate aftermath of the game as he has since been pictured doing so. Birmingham World also spotted the attacker hanging around Molineux over two hours after full time, where some lucky supporters managed to secure selfies and autographs.

Cunha has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this window with Villa among those interested. Arsenal and Nottingham Forest were the most keen, though, with both Champions League hopefuls weighing up significant £60 million bids at one stage.

Talks over a new contract have been ongoing with Cunha for some time and it was hoped he’d sign on the dotted line several weeks ago. The interest - and expected offers - from elsewhere understandably threw a spanner in the works but Cunha has decided to stay put.

Birmingham World understands a release clause will be active in Cunha’s contract from June 2025. The value of said clause hasn’t been disclosed but it has been included to protect Cunha against a relegation to the Championship in case Wanderers face the drop.

Wolves chiefs respond to Matheus Cunha news

Chairman Jeff Shi has reacted to Cunha signing a new deal by saying: “Matheus has been on an amazing journey with us over the past two years and it’s been a privilege to see him grow into a big part of the Wolves family.

“Matheus has a good relationship with every at Compton Park, his personality is infectious to those around him, and we hope this new contract will provide a boost to the group.

“We can all see his quality on the pitch, but off it he’s developed into a leader of the group, and we’re delighted that he’s signed a new contract. It’s always important to us that we reward our strongest and most impactful players, and Matheus deserves this new deal.”

Matt Hobbs added: “The new contract is a reward for what Matheus has done, and symbolises his importance to us on the pitch. It is something that he's earned because of everything he’s given us and will continue to give us.

“Matheus loves the club, loves the fans and really appreciates the opportunity the club has given him. The fans have taken him under their wing, and he’s loved being here, so it's been a really positive experience for both sides.

“His talent is undeniable and he’s a real winner. He wants us to achieve our goals now, and when a player of his quality shows he's with you and up for the fight, it’s a big lift for everyone. Now he has to do what he’s been doing, and even more. I expect him to knuckle down through the second half of season, because we need everyone at it.”