Defender Rayan Ait-Nouri has become a permanent Wolves player after an impressive campaign on loan at Molineux last season.
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Defender Rayan Ait-Nouri is now a permanent Wolves player, following an impressive campaign on loan at Molineux last season. The Frenchman signed a five-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. He returns having grabbed the limelight during the 2020/21 season on loan from Angers. Rayan Ait-Nouri becomes manager Bruno Lage’s third signing as Wolves head coach. The defender recorded an impressive Molineux debut, opening the scoring in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace back in October.
The 20-year-old displayed a hunger to make his presence as an attacker in the 23 games which followed. He further developed defensively, both as a left-back and left-wing-back. Ait-Nouri follows Yerson Mosquera and Francisco Trincao through the Molineux doors under Lage. He will continue to be a part of the setup until 2026.
“We think Rayan is a great signing for the football club. He proved last season that he’s a very talented player, with lots of potential. I thought he did well and kicked on towards the end of the season. He’s a player who is only going to get better. He’s a good boy, who works hard, and settled in well here. We’ve used the loan before buying approach well in the past, with people like Jonny and Raul [Jimenez]. I think it’s a great way for both parties to get to know each other, to see if they can adapt and enjoy English football. We get a chance to have a look first, and see if a deal can be done,” said technical director Scott Sellars.
“In Rayan’s case, he got a lot of minutes because both Jonny and Marcal suffered injury problems last season. So he had lots of games in the Premier League to show his quality. At his age, he’s got a lot to learn still, a lot of work on, and I’m sure with us he’ll develop. He has great quality going forward. We all remember his goal on his debut, so he’s got a lot going for him, as well as areas to develop, like all players,” he added.
Newly appointed Crystal Palace manager Patrick Veira has made 19-year-old attacking midfielder Michael Olise his first arrival. The footballer has signed a five-year contract with the club. Olise moves to south London following a season that saw him record seven goals and 12 assists in 46 games.
“It’s a big moment, Premier League football. It’s a great club and I’m very excited to be here. Good players, a good manager, so I’m ready to start,” said the footballer after the deal was finalised.
Chairman Steve Parish and the gaffer further expressed delight following the transfer.
“I’m delighted that Michael has joined us at Crystal Palace. We have been monitoring him extremely closely for an extended period of time, and have been impressed by his consistent performances for Reading at such a young age. He clearly has an abundance of talent that I’m sure will excite all of our supporters, and clearly shows our direction of travel for this window,” said Parish.
“We have the tools in our football club to make him a better player, and we’ve known him quite well because he’s a player the football club have been following for a long time. I think it is important to refresh the squad, to bring some new faces, to bring young talent here, and this is a really good signing for us,” concluded Vieira.
