Promising Wolves youngster Wes Okoduwa has signed his first professional contract with the club.
The right back, who turned 17 in May, has progressed through the ranks within the Wolves Academy and will now continue his eight-year association with the Old Gold as a full professional.
Okoduwa has been named in the first-team matchday squad on six occasions to date – the first aged 15 against Newcastle United in March 2024 and the most recent against Nottingham Forest earlier this calendar year, under Vitor Pereira.
Born in the United States, Okoduwa moved to the UK as a child and joined the club’s development centre aged nine, before officially signing for the academy one year later.
Since then, the defender has represented each age group, before stepping up to under-21s in 2024, and he’s remained with James Collins’ group since, playing 17 times last term, including in the Premier League 2 play-offs in April.
Internationally, the teenager has been part of three England groups, winning the Val De Marne Tournament with the under-16s in 2023 and rising to the under-18s for the first time two months ago.
On the new contract, Okoduwa said: “It’s a great feeling, I’m over the moon because it shows your hard work isn’t for nothing, and me and my family are proud after a long journey. It’s an amazing club and it’s all I’ve known. I’m glad about how things are going and I’m taking it step by step.
“It gave me a good exposure [being on the first-team bench]. Being exposed that early gave me a good insight to see what men’s football is like, and what I need to do to get there. That was a good experience being around the lads.
“Now, I’ll try to get as much men’s football as I can in because that’s what I’m trying to prepare for. The adult world of football is where I need to go next, so wherever that is, I’m trying to prepare myself physically and mentally.”
