Kilman | 'I’m very proud to call myself a player for this club'

Maximilian Kilman is relishing in his Wolves journey having put pen to paper on a new deal which keeps him at Molineux until 2025.

The 23-year-old defender, who has been a standout performer in the past month to help his side to successive Premier League clean sheets, has had unparalleled success since his move to the club in the summer of 2018.

Having arrived just two seasons ago from non-league Maidenhead United as an under-23 player, Kilman quickly impressed Nuno Espirito Santo and his staff, becoming a regular fixture in the senior squad, going on to proudly wear the gold and black in both the Premier League and Europa League.

On signing the new five-year deal

“It feels great and it’s something that I’ve always wanted. When I first came to Wolves, I always felt there was a future here for me and I could do well here, and it’s been a great two years.

“Everyone here, from the staff, to the players, to everyone involved in the club, they’ve all been brilliant with me and I’ve always felt very welcomed here. I’m very proud and have to thank everyone who has helped me along the way for the support they’ve given me.

“To sign another five years is a fantastic feeling, and I’m just happy to be part of this club for longer.”

On Wolves showing him a long-term commitment

“Having a five-year commitment from the club is great. Along with my family, they have always been very supportive.

“I’ve always felt the manager and the staff have had a lot of belief in me; the little things in training, always doing that extra bit of work with me after sessions, and that belief has given me more confidence in myself.

“I knew that if I listened, worked hard, and kept progressing then I would improve. I always wanted to stay at Wolves, that’s been the goal.

“To be signed for such a big club as Wolves means a lot to me, and to my family as well, and I’m very proud that I can call myself a player for this club.”

Read more: Kilman commits future to Wolves

On his quick progression since joining Wolves

“It’s been quite the journey. Becoming a first-team player definitely came as a surprise, because when I signed from Maidenhead, I never expected that I would be playing for a Premier League, first of all, let alone be part of the first-team squad.

“I only signed for the under-23s and I didn’t have the expectation that I would get to the first-team. I obviously had a bit of belief in myself and my own ability – every player does, but I never thought it would happen within the first six months of joining.

“It’s been a really rapid journey for me and I’ve tried to take it in as much as possible, as I knew when I joined that I needed to get stronger, I needed to get fitter, and slowly and surely I’ve just kept working on it and progressing. But for me, the most important thing now is that I never stop, I’ve got to keep progressing.

“With the experiences I had last season, it’s been a very special time for me. To be part of a Europa League matchday squad, and even starting some of the games, plus the atmosphere from the supporters was incredible, so to put all of that together has been unbelievable.”

#Kilman2025

On learning from his fellow defenders

“They’ve all been great and a massive influence on me. When I first came into the under-23s, I would only come into a couple sessions each week with the first-team, but straight away you could see the quality in the likes of Boly, Coady, Saiss and Bennett when he was here.

“Every day I just tried to take little bits from them, see how they would deal with the different circumstances they would get put under and the pressures they face, and you learn so much from them.

“But I’m still learning from them all now, which goes to show how good they are, not only as players but people as well.”

On being in the spotlight after last two performances

“It’s been great. Every time I wear the shirt and play for Wolves with all these great players around me, it’s always special. But for me, it’s about being able to take it in, to never stop and to never think it’s enough. I’ve got to keep getting better and keep improving so I can help the team.

“I don’t really like to sit down and think, ‘Oh, I’ve done so well in that game’, and I don’t think too much about what’s being said about me, that’s never been my mentality.

“I’ve just been concentrating on training and concentrating on playing. I don’t like to think much about what’s going on outside, I just want to keep going and keep progressing.”

On his aims for the next five years

“The main goal for me is just to keep improving and become the best player I can be, then things will happen naturally from there. I don’t really say, ‘I need to do this, I need to do that.’

“I know it’s a broad thing to say, but for me, I just need to get better, find out more about my strengths and weaknesses and keep improving as much as I can to help the team.”