Traore signs for Wolves

 Wolves have signed exciting Mali midfielder Boubacar Traore on a season-long loan, subject to visa and work permit.

As part of the deal, Wolves hold an option to turn the move permanent next summer, which will also happen automatically should certain clauses be triggered.

Having impressed for Metz in Ligue 1 last season despite their relegation struggles, the 21-year-old makes the switch to the Premier League by agreeing a move to Molineux.

Primarily a defensive-minded central midfielder, Traore’s energy and workrate came to the fore in Ligue 1, where his pressing and tackling stats were among some of the highest in Europe’s top five leagues, while the youngster has also excelled when bringing the ball forwards.

Traore moves to the West Midlands having broken through from Metz’s youth side before going on to make 27 appearances in the top flight of French football last season.

Before developing France, he started his career with hometown club AS Bamako back in Mali, but in 2019 he made the switch to Metz, featuring for the club’s reserve team in the fourth tier, Championnat National 2.

Alongside playing for Metz II, Traore was also named on the bench in Ligue 1 during his early years at the club, but he made the breakthrough to the first-team at the end of the 2020/21 season, scoring his first senior goal away at FC Lorient a week after his debut top-flight appearance.

The Mali under-23 international was a standout player for Metz during the previous campaign, finding the net once again to earn his former side an impressive 1-1 draw with Lyon, although he was unable to stop their drop into the second tier.

Our new man from Mali 🇲🇱 pic.twitter.com/WhaZmyqRP4

— Wolves (@Wolves) September 1, 2022

Following three outings in maroon in the early weeks of this season, Traore heads to England and is set to join up with his new Wolves teammates at Compton Park next week.

Wolves technical director Scott Sellars said: “Our recruitment team have been monitoring Boubacar for some time and have been thoroughly impressed by his output in Ligue 1 over the past 12 months, his continued development as a young player and his consistent impact upon games.

“We are delighted to secure another one of our main targets and we look forward to welcoming him to Compton Park and Molineux, integrating him into the team and watching him continue his development in the Premier League.”