Wolves could wave goodbye to captain Nelson Semedo this summer, with his contract at Molineux set to expire in three days.
The club have done everything in their power to keep the Portuguese right-back, even offering Semedo a generous four-year contract, yet they’re still no closer to knowing his next move.
After Portugal’s Nations League triumph over Spain earlier this month, Semedo said he needed ‘time’ to decide his future, which frustrated supporters.
Wolves fans have since directed anger towards Semedo after the club revealed they wouldn’t cancel the contract offer out of respect for their captain, despite him disrespecting those at Molineux.
That being said, ahead of his five-year journey in Wolverhampton potentially coming to an end, there is one clear reason why Wolves can afford to let him go.
Nelson Semedo during Wolves vs Aston Villa
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Wolves will save over £5 million a year if Nelson Semedo leaves Molineux
Wolves are cursed when it comes to selecting their captain. Semedo has been praised for his leadership skills on and off the pitch since being given the armband in December, but as it stands, the Wanderers will be handing the captaincy over to a sixth player in the space of three years.
Conor Coady, Ruben Neves, Max Kilman, Mario Lemina and Semedo have all worn the armband but all exited the club for several reasons.
It would be a sad day if Semedo becomes the latest to pack his bags, having become a brilliant servant following his £37 million move from Barcelona in 2020.
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The only silver lining to him leaving the club is perhaps the money they’d save, as according to a report from The Athletic in April 2025, the 31-year-old earns over £100,000-a-week, making him one of the club’s highest earners.
A weekly wage of £100,000 amounts to £5.2 million per year. Indeed, if that was the figure pencilled down on his new contract, Semedo would be earning over £20 million across four years, which doesn’t include any performance-related bonuses.
Semedo may be an incredibly talented player and an important member of the dressing room, but it would make sense financially to let him depart, especially since he’s pondering over a decision.
What Vitor Pereira has said about Semedo’s future
As Semedo has filmed his goodbye video, Wolves fans have to come to terms with losing their captain, unless a major update drops in the coming days.
Nelson Semedo’s Wolves stats
182 appearances
3 goals
11 assists
For the Wolves manager, losing his captain would be a bitter pill to swallow, as Pereira is worried about replacing Semedo’s qualities.
Speaking last month, he said: “Nelson knows that we want him. He is our captain, a player who has helped me a lot to unite the group, on the pitch and off the pitch,” Pereira said.
“He is a quality player. He knows that we want him. I think the club has already made him an offer. We will see what happens.
“I never worry about losing him. I worry about getting players, because if someone with quality leaves, someone with quality has to come in. I hope that Nélson stays, but if he leaves, we have to get someone with quality.”
Wolves have been linked with Kyle Walker-Peters as a replacement, although, since he wants a return to Tottenham, completing a deal could be difficult.