Wolves winger finalises Middle East move

The 28-year-old departs in a £5million transfer after more than four years at Molineux, after joining from Olympiacos in January 2020.

Podence signed a contract extension last summer to allow him to return to the Greek side on loan for the 2023/24 season, where he won the UEFA Conference League.

He returned to Wolves this summer and was reintegrated into the first team under Gary O'Neil, playing a part in the first three games of the season.

However, he did not travel with the team to Nottingham Forest at the weekend with a move to the Middle East close to being completed.

Now, with the Saudi Arabian transfer window closing yesterday, Podence has finalised his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab, with Wolves holding a substantial sell-on clause.

Podence's move to Saudi has been on the table all summer, but Wolves held off on completing it while they assessed their own transfer window, with a hope of receiving closer to £8million.

The player has now been granted the move, where he will receive a huge pay rise.

Sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “I’ve got nothing but positive words to say about Danny. All my dealings with him have been easy, even when he was in a difficult place, and when people are like that, you want to look after them when it comes to moves.

“This is a lift-changing opportunity for Danny and his family and one he leaves for with our best wishes. He’s a great guy and will always receive a warm welcome back to Molineux. Now, we wish him the best of luck at Al-Shabab.”

Wolves were also confident of getting goalkeeper Jose Sa a move to Saudi, but that has not materialised before their transfer window closed.

After making the £10million signing of Sam Johnstone from Crystal Palace, Wolves were keen to move Sa on, while the player was eager to depart and not be back-up to Johnstone.

The transfer window in Turkey remains open until September 18 and could be a possible destination for Sa, but after a failed move to Saudi it now looks more likely that he will stay at Wolves.

He was left out of the squad to face Nottingham Forest, with O’Neil admitting it had been an ‘unsettling’ final week in the transfer window for the shot-stopper and he has since joined up with the Portugal national team for their upcoming Nations League games.