Wolves confirm departure of 105-appearance forward ahead of Liverpool Premier League clash

Daniel Podence has left Wolves to join Greek side Olympiacos on a season-long loan but penned a new contract at Molineux before his departure.

The forward has not played for Wolves this season and has left the club after three-and-a-half years but has been allowed to leave on loan after penning new terms until the summer of 2025, with the option of a further year.

Podence scored 16 goals in 105 games for Wolves after joining from Olympiacos on a four-and-a-half-year in January 2020. That contract was set to expire next summer, but the club were not willing to sanction a loan for a player with just one season left on their deal.

Sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “It’s no secret that Daniel was keen to look at new options this summer, but nothing came which suited us or Daniel, but this is an opportunity for him to go back where he was and play European football, and he was great in understanding that for us to allow it, he had to sign a contract.

“There’s still a possibility Daniel comes back and plays for Wolves again, but it was the right time to let him go and play this season. He can either come back after the season or we’ll be negotiating next summer with a player with a longer contract. He was respectful and didn’t push back – he was happy to protect the club. We’ll stay in touch this season, and I want him to do well, to either come back and play for us in good form or maximise his value.

“This has been on the cards since January, when Julen was here, that he could leave in the summer, but he wasn’t going to leave for anyone. He had offers from the Premier League, but he didn’t want to go, but with this opportunity European football was a big pull. It works for all parties. They get a good player on loan and we protect ourselves with no costs from this year. It was a palatable situation for all parties.”

Wolves return to Premier League action against Liverpool on September 16. It is the first top-flight fixture after the international break as the sides kick off at 12.30pm