Wolves Without a Leader: Is the Club Losing Direction?

Wolverhampton Wanderers have faced significant turnover in their squad, particularly in leadership. With reports suggesting that Nélson Semedo could leave on a free transfer this summer, Wolves risk losing another captain. This follows the departures of former captains Mario Lemina (sold in January) and Max Kilman (sold in the summer), along with Conner Coady and Ruben Neves in 2023. With so many key voices exiting in such a short time, do Wolves have a leadership crisis – and how can they solve it?

Do Wolverhampton Wanderers Have A Leadership Problem?

Wolves’ Leadership: Who Can Fill the Void?

The Wolves squad has been stripped of experienced leaders in the past few seasons, partly due to financial constraints. Ruben Neves was the team’s on-field general before his 2023 move to Al-Hilal. His successor, Kilman, was sold to West Ham in 2024. Lemina, captain at the start of the season, was surprisingly sold in January 2025. BBC Sport has reported that the new contract talks with Nélson Semedo have stalled, meaning he will be free to leave in the summer. Birmingham World also reported that Portuguese news outlets have linked Benfica with a move for Semedo. Meanwhile, Craig Dawson – one of the more experienced figures was unregistered from the squad in January, further reducing their leadership options.

Who Leads Wolves now?

With so many established leaders gone, Wolves must find new figures to step up. João Gomes and Matheus Cunha have become key players, but neither is a natural vocal leader. Cunha also got sent off against Bournemouth while wearing the armband. Goalkeeper José Sá brings experience but doesn’t appear to have stepped into the void left by past leaders. At the same time, Semedo has done a decent job since being made captain when Mario Lemina was stripped of the captaincy after an altercation with Jarrod Bowen following a 2-1 loss to West Ham. Wolves risk lacking direction in crucial moments without a commanding presence to rally the team. If Semedo does not sign a new deal with the club, finding a strong leader from within or through recruitment should be a priority moving forward.

How Can Wolves Fix This Issue?

To address their leadership concerns, Wolves must prioritise recruiting experienced players who can bring stability and authority to the squad. At the same time, they should focus on developing leadership from within, identifying players like João Gomes or Matheus Cunha who could take on greater responsibility over time, if the latter extends his stay at the club past the summer. Additionally, Wolves need a consistent squad-building strategy to avoid the constant turnover of key players, ensuring they retain a strong leadership core instead of regularly losing their most influential figures.

Wolves have undoubtedly lost key leaders in the past few seasons, and Semedo’s potential departure only adds to that problem. They risk struggling in key moments if they fail to address this leadership void. Whether through recruitment, squad stability, or internal development, finding a strong core of leaders should be a top priority for the club moving forward.