Promotion hero agrees deal to make Wolves return

Wolves have agreed a deal to bring former goalkeeper John Ruddy back to the club.

The 39-year-old veteran will join as third-choice keeper, replacing Dan Bentley who moved to Coventry City last week.

Ruddy first joined Wolves in 2017 on a free transfer after leaving Norwich City and went on to make 72 appearances during a five-year stay at Molineux.

The majority of those came in his first season, when he was a virtual ever-present in the team which won promotion from the Championship under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Ruddy spent two years with Blues after leaving Wolves in 2022 and has spent the previous two campaigns on the books of Newcastle, without ever making a competitive appearance. He was released by the Magpies at the start of the summer.

Ruddy, who won his sole England cap in 2012, will join a Wolves goalkeeping department which is expected to see further change before next week’s transfer deadline.

While Jose Sa is likely to remain at the club as No.1, there remains an expectation Sam Johnstone will move on, with a No.2 shot-stopper arriving in his place.

Johnstone was not present as Wolves reached the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night.

Several other players are expected to depart. Defender Ki-Jana Hoever is the latest to leave after moving to Sparta Prague for a fee of around £1.7million.