WES OKODUWA has already made a huge impression in the youth ranks at Wolves – and this is why Manchester United and Chelsea made a move for the defender in the summer.
Both United and the Blues were told that there was no way the 16-year-old full-back would be allowed to leave as Wolves want their homegrown star to remain in the West Midlands.
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HOW DO THEY PLAY AND WHO DO THEY REMIND YOU OF?
Due to the fact he is so young, Okoduwa is still growing.
But he is already a formidable right-back, with pace and power his biggest attributes.
He is terrific at defending in one-on-one situations so the best comparison is Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is now at West Ham.
In March, Okoduwa was on the bench for Wolves’ Premier League game at Newcastle.
Had he featured, he would have been the club’s youngest-ever player.
The following month, he was also an unused substitute at home to Arsenal.
On both occasions, the youngster was taken out of school to prepare for the game.
He stayed on the bench for subsequent Premier League matches.
TELL US ABOUT THEIR RISE
Okoduwa was born in New York to Nigerian parents but he moved to Wolverhampton at an early age and has been with the club since he was 10.
He has played for England’s Under-16s and is now due to be part of the U17s set-up this season – although he has also been invited to train with the United States.
His father, Emmanuel, made one senior appearance for Nigeria and also played club football in Ukraine.
He’s trained very well, he’s physically very good
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil
WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING?
After the home game with Arsenal, Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said: “I hope he’s had more fun with us than he would have in science!
“He’s trained very well, he’s physically very good. It’s probably slightly too early in his development but it’s the situation we’re in.”
WHAT DO THE NEXT 12 MONTHS HOLD?
Okoduwa will have to wait until next May before he turns 17, which is when he can sign his first professional contract.
He started playing for Wolves’ U21s aged 15 and will continue to remain with the group while training in and around the first-team.
Maybe next summer – or in 18 months’ time – the teen sensation might look to be loaned to an EFL side for a taste of first-team action.
Wolves obviously rate him highly, otherwise he would have not been allowed anywhere near the first team.
But he is incredibly young, particularly for a defender. So Wolves know it will be in their interests to handle him with care.
There is no reason, however, why he could not get a glimpse of first-team action this season – maybe even as a sub in one of the cups.
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Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25
NOTHING stays the same forever.
And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.
Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.
Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.
There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.
Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.
