Coady departs for Everton

Defender Conor Coady has completed a season-long loan move to Everton, with an option for the Merseyside club to make the transfer permanent.

The move comes after a hugely successful seven-year period for the 29-year-old at Wolves, where he helped the club earn promotion back to the top flight and served as captain as the old gold enjoyed four consecutive Premier League campaigns for the first time.

Signed as a midfielder from Huddersfield Town in 2015, Coady was transformed into a central defender under former head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, and has developed into an established Premier League player and England international.

Having played every league minute following promotion, Coady led the club into Europe for the first time in 39 years and donned the armband with pride, as Wolves enjoyed a thrilling journey to the last eight of the Europa League in the 2019/20 campaign.

While at Molineux, the popular Coady has embedded himself into the club on and off the pitch, leading the dressing room as skipper and serving as an ambassador figure both for the football club and Wolves Foundation.

A picture of consistency since stepping into the back three, Coady was rarely unavailable for selection and enjoyed an incredible run of 84 consecutive games in the Premier League following the club’s promotion, which left him third in the record books for an outfield player.

Back in February, Coady celebrated his 300th Wolves game – a tally which he took to 317 – while his four goals in the Premier League during 2021/22 was a season high for the defender.

Performances in old gold saw Coady earn a first senior England call up two years ago and having been in part of the country’s Euro 2020 squad, the chance to feature at the Qatar World Cup remains a strong possibility.

Last weekend, Coady was an unused substitute at Elland Road for Wolves, and now returns to his native Merseyside in a bid to play regular football under Frank Lampard at Everton.

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said: “Conor has been an integral part of our success over the last five seasons, and loyal servant to the club over his seven years at Molineux. His dedication to Wolves in that time means that we choose not to stand in the way of his desire to play football elsewhere, and he leaves with our best wishes.

“Even when emotionally it can be hard to part after everything we have been through together, it is important for me to look at the wider picture and make difficult decisions. A huge thank you to Conor for everything he has achieved at Wolves, and for being an outstanding person, on and off the football pitch.”

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