In recent years, Wolverhampton Wanderers have achieved substantial earnings from player transfers, with this summer seeing the profitable departures of Matheus Nunes and Ruben Neves. Nunes’ departure on deadline day brought in £53 million, while Neves’ move to Al-Hilal added £47 million to the club’s finances, helping to alleviate financial pressures at Molineux.
Despite the recent high-profile sales of the Portuguese duo, one particular departure from the short-lived Stale Solbakken era stands out as a major transfer in Wolves’ history.
The exit of Steven Fletcher to Sunderland garnered considerable attention during the summer of 2012, marking the separation of the club from their leading scorer of the previous season. Fletcher had been signed from Burnley in 2010, following a season in which he scored eight Premier League goals during his debut English top-flight campaign with Burnley.
Upon his arrival at Molineux, the Scottish forward made an immediate impact, notching 12 goals and five assists in 33 appearances during his first year with the club in the Midlands. He continued his impressive form the following season, scoring 12 goals in the Premier League.
However, things took a downturn for both Wolves and Fletcher in his second season, as the club was relegated to the Championship, and Fletcher submitted a formal transfer request. In 2012, Wolves agreed to a transfer, with Sunderland acquiring the striker for £14 million. This initially appeared to be a sound deal, as Fletcher netted 11 goals in the Premier League during his debut campaign with the Black Cats.
In hindsight, Wolves’ receipt of £14 million for the former Scottish international was considered excellent business. Three years later, his expected transfer value had dwindled to just €6.3 million (£5.4 million).
Fletcher’s career trajectory and market value continued to decline, and he never played in the Premier League again after leaving Sunderland. Today, he is valued at just €400,000 (£350,000) and is competing in League Two for Wrexham. In the current season, at the age of 36, he has scored two goals in seven appearances, demonstrating that he still possesses his goal-scoring abilities.
Among Wolves’ most lucrative sales, the £14 million acquired for Fletcher ranks ninth, underscoring the well-executed nature of the transfer, as the club held out for a higher fee for their key player.
While Fletcher provided Molineux with much to celebrate during his two seasons with the club, his departure also contributed significantly to the club’s finances as they bid him farewell.
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