Wolves secured the signing of highly rated Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes from Flamengo in January 2023.

After a patient and determined recruitment process, Wolves made the 21-year-old Julen Lopetegui’s sixth acquisition of the January transfer window.

Gomes put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months, adding to the old gold’s midfield department.

Familiar with a deep midfield role, Gomes is known for his energy and commitment, playing 41 games last season for his hometown club, who he left for the Premier League.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Gomes was on Flamengo books right from the start, learning his trade through the club’s academy system, before being given his chance as a 19-year-old in November 2020.

The youngster was quickly in the thick of the action for Flamengo, and by the end of season one, where he featured 16 times, the midfielder had won the Brazilian league and Campeonato Carioca, a competition which sees Rio clubs compete.

Flamengo, Brazil’s most well-supported club, are often envied by fellow Rio sides, meaning derbies against the likes of Fluminense, which take place at the legendary Maracana, and Botafogo provided a baptism of fire for Gomes.

Further honours continued into the 2021 season, when he was a regular fixture in the midfield, and last year, which ended in November ahead of the winter, Gomes and Flamengo were named champions of South America after beating Athletico Paranaense in the final.

That win last October proved to be one of Gomes’ final games for Flamengo, and headed to Molineux for a first experience of European and English football with Wolves.