Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Cesar Peixoto has publicly confirmed that Bertrand Traore is set to join the club, bringing an end to speculation over the 31-year-old winger's future. The Burkina Faso international has been without a club since leaving Sunderland at the end of last season.

Manager speaks out after Birmingham draw

Peixoto addressed the subject in the wake of Sunday's 2-2 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrew's, speaking to BBC Radio WM in unusually candid terms for a deal not yet formally announced.

"It's going to happen," the Wolves head coach said. "It's one more player with quality. It's the winger that we need, with a left foot like I want. The player will come to improve the team like I want. We find the right name to put in the right area."

When pressed on squad registration, Peixoto acknowledged that the paperwork still needs to be finalised, adding: "We are still going to have to talk about that, but he's coming in." According to BBC Sport, it is thought Traore could take the place of 27-year-old Santiago Bueno in Wolves' 25-man Championship squad for the remainder of the season.

A well-travelled career arrives in the second tier

Traore brings considerable top-flight experience to Molineux, though his recent campaign at Sunderland gave him a taste of Championship football. He made 12 appearances for the club last season, though only two of those came after the turn of the year, and the option of a further year on his contract was not taken up.

The Burkina Faso international first came to prominence in English football during a three-year spell at Aston Villa, where he arrived from Lyon for a reported £17 million in September 2020 under then manager Dean Smith. After his time in the Midlands ended, he moved on loan to Villareal in January 2024 before a stint at Dutch club Ajax, and then signed a one-year deal at Sunderland last summer.

Now a free agent, Traore represents the kind of low-risk, potentially high-reward acquisition that Championship clubs frequently target in the later stages of a transfer window. No fee is involved, and his wages will be the primary negotiating point, according to the BBC's reporting.

What Traore offers Wolves

Peixoto's comments suggest the signing is driven by a specific tactical need rather than opportunism. The Wolves head coach has been explicit about wanting a left-footed wide option, and Traore's profile fits: a direct, technically gifted attacker capable of operating on the right side and cutting in onto his stronger foot, or deployed on the left to stretch defences.

Wolves, described by Peixoto himself as "promotion hopefuls," will be hoping that the addition of a player with Traore's pedigree can sharpen their attacking output at a point in the season when the Championship table is beginning to take shape. The 2-2 draw at Birmingham was a reminder that points are being dropped, and reinforcing the wide areas could prove decisive over the course of a long second-tier campaign.

The deal has not yet been formally confirmed by the club, and supporters should note that, while the manager's words carry significant weight, the signing will only be official once Wolves announce it through their own channels and the relevant league registration is completed. That formality, however, appears to be a matter of when rather than if.

Frequently asked

Is Bertrand Traore signing for Wolves?
Wolves manager Cesar Peixoto has confirmed the deal is set to happen, telling BBC Radio WM 'it's going to happen' after Sunday's draw with Birmingham City. No formal club announcement has been made yet.
What clubs has Bertrand Traore played for?
Traore has played for Aston Villa (three seasons after a £17m move from Lyon), Villareal (loan), Ajax, and Sunderland, where he spent last season before becoming a free agent.
How will Traore fit into Wolves' Championship squad?
According to BBC Sport, Traore is thought likely to take the place of Santiago Bueno in Wolves' 25-man Championship squad. Peixoto has described him as the left-footed winger the side needs.