Jonny makes Wolves departure
Jonny has left Wolves after a five-and-a-half-year contract expired.
The Spaniard is now free to join another club after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.
The defender was a key member of the Old Gold team, which finished seventh in consecutive Premier League seasons and advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals and Europa League quarter-final.
During those two seasons, during which his loan move was made permanent, Jonny established himself as a left-wing-back under Nuno Espirito Santo, frequently doing the heavy yards that allowed the entire squad to prosper.
However, it was against Olympiacos in the Europa League final 16 that his fortunes altered, as the now 29-year-old suffered the first of two catastrophic knee injuries in the space of nine months, bringing his momentum in old gold to an abrupt halt.
Despite returning to fitness in February 2022, Jonny has yet to make a regular appearance in the Wolves’ starting lineup, despite winning the Premier League Goal of the Month title in March with a 41-yard goal against Leeds United.
Jonny’s final game for the club was as a substitute in a win over Manchester City in September, and he leaves with 134 appearances and six goals.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “Jonny hasn’t played much football in the last few years, so he wants to go and play, and we’re happy to give him that opportunity.” He’s been a tremendous servant to us, so we attempted to have something done for him as soon as possible.
“Doc is the last one left from the first Europa League group, and he returned, so Jonny’s departure marks another departure from that era, from a group of players who will always be welcomed back to the club for what they did for the club, and Jonny will be held in the same regard.”
“In the modern period, he was a key player of the most successful squad we’ve ever had, therefore Jonny should only be recognised for his contributions. Every squad requires individuals from whom the manager understands exactly what to expect. He reared one child, had another here, and adored the city. When it comes to assembling a team, that is really crucial.”
With Rayan Ait-Nouri’s return from international duty, Gary O’Neil rejoins his complete complement of four full-backs, with Hugo Bueno, Nelson Semedo, and Matt Doherty, which Hobbs believes puts Wolves in a strong position.
“We’ve got two excellent, youthful left-backs, and ‘Doc’ can play on both sides, so we have a group of four full-backs who are really well covered, and Toti can drop in as well, so we’re in a good position.
“In football, every team goes through periods, and we’re starting to build a new squad that has the same potential and is just as exciting in a much tougher Premier League. We’d like to think that our group is creating something that can be compared to what that team accomplished.”
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