Adama Traore completes transfer to Wolves in club-record £18m deal

Premier League new boys Wolves have completed the signing of Middlesbrough winger Adama Traore, for a club record fee.

Wanderers have paid £18million for the Barcelona youth product, activating a release clause in his contract, in a deal that usurps the £15.8million paid for Ruben Neves in 2017.

Wolves had a £12million offer rejected earlier in the summer, but manager Nuno Espirito Santo was desperate to land the 22-year-old, having made him one of his top targets following promotion.

Now Traore has inked a five-year deal at Molineux, becoming the club's ninth summer signing.

The Spanish winger, who has previous Premier League experience with both Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, made 40 appearances for ‘Boro last season, scoring five goals and registering 10 assists in the second tier. He was the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.

Traore underwent a medical at Wolves' Compton training ground on Tuesday, subsequently missing ‘Boro’s 3-0 win over Sheffield United.

Tony Pulis, under whom Traore starred during the second half of last season, had hoped to keep Traore at the Riverside, with the North East club offering the winger a new contract.

But Pulis had no qualms about Traore’s desire to return to the Premier League at the first available opportunity.

"Adama was my best buddy so to lose him is really difficult,” said Pulis on Tuesday night.

"When I came to the football club he looked a little bit sullen, he didn’t have any confidence and in the end he played with a smile on his face and he certainly excited a lot of people at this football club."