Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed the arrival of Porto defender Willy Boly on a season-long loan.
The news comes hot on the heels of the Championship side's club-record capture of midfielder Ruben Neves as Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo - former Porto boss - strengthens his side ahead of the new season.
✍️ We are also delighted to confirm the arrival of Willy Boly who joins Wolves on a season-long loan from @FCPorto. #WelcomeWilly pic.twitter.com/ERj2qh3XrV
— Wolves (@Wolves) July 8, 2017
Wolves are thought to be paying 26-year-old Boly's £40,000-a-week wages in full during his loan spell and the deal is said to include an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season for a fee of €12m (£10.5m).
Boly - a graduate of the Auxerre youth system - joined Porto last summer on a five-year deal from Braga but was restricted to just four Primeira Liga appearances during his debut campaign.
"I'm happy to come to Wolves, I want to play well with this club and I want to make history here," Boly told the Wolves website. "I love this country and I love the football that is played here - I have always wanted to play here in England and now it's a dream come true for me and now I will hopefully stay here for a long time.
"It's good for me because I already know the coach, I know the way that he works and that was a determining factor in me coming to Wolves as it will be easier for me to adapt to the way of playing in this country alongside Nuno. I think it was two weeks ago that he asked me to come with him to Wolves and I said 'Yes'.
"After the holidays I came back and signed for this club. I don't know how different the way of playing in England will compare to football in Portugal so I will have to wait and see. I am very excited to play football in England - I have always watched it on TV and now I have the chance to play here.
"When you play football, you play to win every game - if you are in the top league, you want to stay there and if you are in the second then you want to achieve promotion. This is normal and every player has these goals to play at the highest level they can. The message is work together and win together - winning is for everyone."
Five of Wolves' six signings so far this summer have now come in defence, with Roderick Miranda, Ryan Bennett, Phil Ofosu-Ayeh and Barry Douglas having also moved to Molineux.
The influx of fresh blood to the Midlands side's backline has thrown doubt on the futures of skipper Danny Batth and youngster Kortney Hause.
Wolves are thought to have spent around £15m in order to bring Neves to the club, taking Chinese owners Fosun International's transfer spending past the £40m mark since they acquired the club a year ago.
Neil Wilkes
