# 2021–22 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

The 2021–22 season was the 144th in the history of Wolverhampton Wanderers and the 4th consecutive in the Premier League. The club also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
This was the first season under former Benfica manager Bruno Lage, who was appointed on 9 June 2021 following the departure of Nuno Espírito Santo by mutual consent at the end of the previous season.

## Pre-season friendlies

The club's pre-season schedule included friendlies against Crewe Alexandra, Real Betis, Stoke City, Coventry City and Celta Vigo, in addition to two friendlies behind closed doors against Forest Green Rovers and Al Shabab. On July 12, Wanderers confirmed a sixth pre-season match, against Las Palmas.

## Competitions
### Premier League
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 8 | Leicester City | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 62 | 59 | +3 | 52 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 38 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 42 | 44 | −2 | 51 |
| 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 38 | 43 | −5 | 51 |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 44 | 62 | −18 | 49 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 38 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 50 | 46 | +4 | 48 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source:

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | L | L | W | L | W | W | W | D | W | L | W | D | D | L | L | W | D | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | L | W | L | W | L | L | L | D | L | D | L |
| Position | 13 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |

#### Matches

The provisional fixture list was released on 16 June 2021, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage or police concerns.

### FA Cup

As a Premier League team, Wolves entered the competition at the third round stage, and were drawn at home to Sheffield United.

### EFL Cup

As a Premier League team not involved in European competition, Wolves entered the competition at the second round stage in August 2021 and were drawn away to Nottingham Forest and in the third round against Tottenham Hotspur at home.

### EFL Trophy

Wolves were one of the sixteen teams from outside the bottom two divisions of the Football League to be invited to field their academy team in the competition due to it holding Category 1 academy status. They were drawn into Group C in the Northern section. Note: In group stage matches which were level at the end of 90 minutes, a penalty shoot-out was held, with the winner earning a bonus point.

## Players
### Statistics

Key: ‡ On loan from another club * First appearance(s) for the club
* # = Squad number
* Pos = Playing position
* P = Number of games played 10
* G = Number of goals scored
* GK = Goalkeeper
* DF = Defender
* MF = Midfielder
* FW = Forward
* = Yellow cards
* = Red cards
* † Permanent player left club during the season
* ¤ Loaned to another club for part or all of season
Correct as of 22 May 2022. Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable.
| No. | Pos | Name | P | G | P | G | P | G | P | G | | |
| No. | Pos | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline | Notes |
| 1 | GK | José Sá | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Ki-Jana Hoever | 4(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6(4) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Rayan Aït-Nouri | 20(3) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24(3) | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Marçal | 17(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Bruno Jordão ¤ | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Pedro Neto | 5(8) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(8) | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Rúben Neves | 31(2) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34(2) | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Raúl Jiménez | 30(4) | 6 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29(6) | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| 10 | FW | Daniel Podence | 14(11) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17(11) | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Francisco Trincão ‡ | 16(12) | 2 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 1 | 16(14) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Louie Moulden ¤ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Yerson Mosquera | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Willy Boly | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Conor Coady | 38 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 41(1) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | Fábio Silva | 6(16) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10(16) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Morgan Gibbs-White ¤ | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1(2) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | Jonny | 9(3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9(3) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | Chiquinho | 1(7) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(8) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | John Ruddy | 1(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Nélson Semedo | 25 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 26(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Max Kilman | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | Toti Gomes ¤ | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | Hwang Hee-chan ‡ | 20(10) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21(10) | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Romain Saïss | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | João Moutinho | 34(1) | 2 | 1(1) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 36(3) | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | Leander Dendoncker | 22(8) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 26(8) | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | Ryan Giles ¤ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | Dion Sanderson ¤ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | FW | Adama Traoré ¤ | 11(9) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 12(11) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | MF | Luke Cundle | 2(2) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 2(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | MF | Hayao Kawabe ¤ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | GK | James Storer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 54 | MF | Owen Otasowie † | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 59 | DF | Oskar Buur † | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 62 | GK | Andreas Söndergaard ¤ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 64 | DF | Hugo Bueno | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 75 | DF | Christian Marques ¤ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | FW | Chem Campbell | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 81 | DF | Dexter Lembikisa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* ↑ Neves was suspended vs Burnley (h) due to accumulating five yellow cards.
* ↑ Jiménez was suspended vs Brighton (a) due to receiving a second yellow card vs Manchester City (a).

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee | Team |
| 17 June 2021 | CB | Yerson Mosquera | Atlético Nacional | Undisclosed | First team |
| 1 July 2021 | GK | Louie Moulden | Manchester City | Free transfer | Under 23's |
| 9 July 2021 | LB | Rayan Aït-Nouri | Angers | Undisclosed | First team |
| 15 July 2021 | GK | José Sá | Olympiacos | Undisclosed | First team |
| 17 July 2021 | RB | Bendegúz Bolla | Fehérvár | Undisclosed | First team |
| 27 August 2021 | DM | Joe Hodge | Manchester City | Undisclosed | Under 23's |
| 31 August 2021 | DM | Harvey Griffiths | Manchester City | Undisclosed | Under 23's |
| 17 September 2021 | FW | Josh Esen | Llanelli Town | Free transfer | Academy |
| 5 January 2022 | CM | Hayao Kawabe | Grasshoppers | Undisclosed | First team |
| 17 January 2022 | FW | Chiquinho | Estoril | Undisclosed | First team |
| 28 January 2022 | RW | Jeong Sang-bin | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Undisclosed | First team |
| 11 March 2022 | RW | Umar Nawaz | Unattached | Free transfer | Academy |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date until | Team | Ref. |
| 3 July 2021 | RW | | Francisco Trincão | Barcelona | End of season | First team | |
| 29 August 2021 | CF | | Hwang Hee-chan | RB Leipzig | End of season | First team | |
* ↑ On 26 January, Hwang Hee-chan signed on a permanent basis beginning from the start of 2022-23 season.

### New and extended contracts

| Date | Position | Name |
| 27 May 2021 | CF | Austin Samuels |
| 1 June 2021 | CB | Pascal Estrada |
| 24 June 2021 | GK | John Ruddy |
| 2 July 2021 | CM | Taylor Perry |
| 19 July 2021 | CB | Dion Sanderson |
| 5 August 2021 | LB | Hugo Bueno |
| 31 August 2021 | CM | Morgan Gibbs-White |
| 31 August 2021 | CB | Nigel Lonwijk |
| 31 August 2021 | CB | Christian Marques |
| 28 October 2021 | RB | Harry Birtwistle |
| 5 November 2021 | CB | Max Kilman |
| 10 November 2021 | LB | Dexter Lembikisa |
| 12 November 2021 | CF | Tyler Roberts |
| 14 November 2021 | LB | Aaron Keto-Diyawa |
| 23 November 2021 | CB | Kam Kandola |
| 13 January 2022 | LB | Lewis Richards |
| 17 January 2022 | CB | Jack Scott |
| 28 February 2022 | CF | Nathan Fraser |
| 1 March 2022 | CM | Luke Cundle |
| 9 March 2022 | LW | Pedro Neto |
| 21 March 2022 | CB | Toti |
| 12 April 2022 | FW | Lee Harkin |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date until | Team |
| 1 July 2021 | LB | Toti | Grasshopper | 4 January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 9 July 2021 | LB | Rúben Vinagre | Sporting CP | End of season | First team |
| 13 July 2021 | LM | Ryan Giles | Cardiff City | 3 January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 16 July 2021 | FW | Leonardo Campana | Grasshopper | 20 January 2022 | First team |
| 17 July 2021 | RB | Bendegúz Bolla | Grasshopper | End of season | First team |
| 19 July 2021 | CB | Dion Sanderson | Birmingham City | 4 January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 26 July 2021 | GK | Matija Sarkic | Birmingham City | 6 January 2022 | First team |
| 29 July 2021 | CF | Renat Dadashov | Tondela | End of season | Under-23s |
| 2 August 2021 | CF | Theo Corbeanu | Sheffield Wednesday | 7 January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 5 August 2021 | CM | Taylor Perry | Cheltenham Town | 12 January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 12 August 2021 | GK | Joe Young | Runcorn Linnets | January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 13 August 2021 | CF | Patrick Cutrone | Empoli | End of season | First team |
| 14 August 2021 | GK | Jackson Smith | Kettering Town | End of season | Under-23s |
| 24 August 2021 | CF | Austin Samuels | Aberdeen | 7 January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 27 August 2021 | RB | Luke Matheson | Hamilton Academical | 15 January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 31 August 2021 | CM | Morgan Gibbs-White | Sheffield United | End of season | First team |
| 31 August 2021 | CB | Nigel Lonwijk | Fortuna Sittard | End of season | Under-23s |
| 31 August 2021 | CM | Connor Ronan | St Mirren | End of season | First team |
| 31 August 2021 | GK | Andreas Söndergaard | Randers | January 2022 | First team |
| 2 September 2021 | CB | Christian Marques | Belenenses | 17 January 2022 | Under-23s |
| 7 January 2022 | CF | Theo Corbeanu | Milton Keynes Dons | End of season | Under-23s |
| 13 January 2022 | CB | Lewis Richards | Harrogate Town | End of season | Under-23s |
| 14 January 2022 | GK | Joe Young | Matlock Town | End of season | Under-23s |
| 14 January 2022 | GK | Joe O'Shaughnessy | Hednesford Town | End of season | Under-23s |
| 15 January 2022 | RB | Luke Matheson | Scunthorpe United | End of season | Under-23s |
| 17 January 2022 | CB | Jack Scott | St. Patrick's Athletic | January 2023 | Under-23s |
| 21 January 2022 | FW | Leonardo Campana | Inter Miami | January 2023 | First team |
| 21 January 2022 | CM | Hayao Kawabe | Grasshopper | End of next season | First team |
| 25 January 2022 | CB | Dion Sanderson | Queens Park Rangers | End of season | Under-23s |
| 28 January 2022 | RW | Jeong Sang-bin | Grasshopper | 17 March 2023 | First team |
| 29 January 2022 | RW | Adama Traoré | Barcelona | End of season | First team |
| 30 January 2022 | CM | Bruno Jordão | Grasshopper | End of season | First team |
| 30 January 2022 | GK | Louie Moulden | Ebbsfleet United | End of season | First team |
| 30 January 2022 | GK | Andreas Söndergaard | Hereford | End of season | First team |
| 1 February 2022 | LM | Ryan Giles | Blackburn Rovers | End of season | First team |
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Gomes was recalled during the January transfer window.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Giles was recalled during the January transfer window.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Campana was recalled during the January transfer window.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Sanderson was recalled during the January transfer window.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Sarkic was recalled during the January transfer window due to a season ending injury.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Corbeanu was recalled during the January transfer window.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Perry was recalled during the January transfer window.
* ↑ This was originally meant to end in January 2022, but was extended till the end of the season.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Samuels was recalled during the January transfer window.
* ↑ On 15 January, Matheson was recalled early from his loan at Hamilton to facilitate a move to Scunthorpe.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season-long loan but Marques was recalled during the January transfer window.
* ↑ This was originally to be a season and a half long loan but Sang-bin was recalled back to Wolves.

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee | Team |
| 1 July 2021 | DF | Sadou Diallo | Forest Green Rovers | Released | Under-23s |
| 1 July 2021 | CF | Jaden Forrester | Swansea City | Released | Academy |
| 1 July 2021 | CB | Cyriaque Mayounga | Senica | Released | Under-23s |
| 1 July 2021 | CM | Christián Herc | Grasshopper | Free transfer | Under-23s |
| 1 July 2021 | MF | Hong Wan | Johor Darul Ta'zim | Free transfer | Under-23s |
| 13 July 2021 | GK | Rui Patrício | Roma | Undisclosed | First team |
| 16 July 2021 | MF | Dean Pinnington | Wigan Athletic | Free transfer | Academy |
| 20 August 2021 | DM | Owen Otasowie | Club Brugge | Undisclosed | First team |
| 20 August 2021 | CF | Rafa Mir | Sevilla | €15,000,000 | First team |
| 28 January 2022 | CF | Austin Samuels | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Undisclosed | Under-23s |
| 31 January 2022 | RB | Oskar Buur | Volendam | Contract terminated | First team |
| 31 January 2022 | FW | Erik Bugarín | Elche | Free transfer | Under-23s |