Wolves’ rebuild ahead of the 150th anniversary season has begun with the capture of heralded full-back Kieran Trippier.
The 35-year-old arrives on a two-year deal and becomes the first signing of the summer for Rob Edwards, as the club looks to bounce straight back to the Premier League.
Trippier heads to Molineux as a free agent having spent an incredibly successful four-year spell with Newcastle United, with the defender spearheading the club’s recent revival and playing a key role in taking the Magpies from the brink of top flight relegation to Champions League football.
Born in Bury, Greater Manchester, Trippier began his career at nearby Manchester City and made his first steps into senior football with loan spells at Barnsley and Burnley, before helping the Clarets reach the Premier League in 2014, following a permanent move to Turf Moor.
After becoming an established defender in the Premier League, he would go on to play Champions League football with Tottenham Hotspur, reaching the final in 2019, as well as making his senior debut for England against France in June 2017.
Getting our first deal done early ✍️ pic.twitter.com/IUFYSGWDCN
— Wolves (@Wolves) June 8, 2026
Trippier would go on to earn 54 international caps with the Three Lions, which saw him claim runners-up medals in both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, as well as scoring an incredible free-kick in the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia, which England would go on to lose.
The defender has also enjoyed success in Spain, lifting the La Liga title with Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid in 2021 – which saw Trippier become Atleti’s first English player in 95 years – before moving to St James’ Park six months later.
His leadership qualities set the standards for Newcastle’s re-emergence, as the Geordie club entered a new era under Eddie Howe, but he now heads to Molineux with the aim of getting Wolves back to where the Old Gold belong.
Nathan Shi, executive chairman, said: “Throughout his career, Kieran has performed at the very highest level, so we are delighted he has chosen Wolves for the next chapter of his journey.
“He is a player with incredible quality, his leadership attributes are second to none, and he also possesses an innate will to win, while his experiences in the Premier League, Champions League and on the international stage will be invaluable to our squad.
“We know the challenge ahead of us in the Championship, but Kieran’s signing shows just how ambitious we want to be. We are excited to see him add his professionalism, character and exceptionally high standards to the squad and help drive the football club forward.”
Head coach Edwards was delighted to have made a statement signing so early on in the summer. “I’m so happy to bring him here,” Edwards said. “When we met, it was evident that he really wants to come to Wolves.
“We know what we’ve lacked this year, and we know what we need next year – experience, leadership, resilient characters and strong characters – that’s what we’re going to need in abundance, and Tripps ticks every box. From quality to experience to leadership to know how, and he also has a real hunger. He wants to help us get promoted again, and this is really something for us to achieve.
“He did have good options elsewhere, so for us to be able to get it over the line and get him in is a real coup. But it shows what a big club we are. We are a big draw and building on the Andre news, I don’t think we could have had a better start to the summer with what we’re trying to do.”
Technical director, Matt Jackson, added: “We’re really pleased to have brought Kieran to Wolves. It’s been a good joint effort between Rob, Nathan and myself, and he’s really bought into the project.
“He was very much the number one target for us and managing to bring Kieran here early in the window, where we can plan, and then have him join us on the first day of pre-season was vitally important.
“It’s really pleasing to us that he’s decided to commit to Wolves, but I think it’s testimony to everybody at the football club, the supporters, as well as the people internally, that the thrill of this football club can appeal to someone who’s had the career that Kieran has had.”
