Mario Lemina finishes Move to Galatasaray from Wolves

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Mario Lemina has joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal.

The athletic Reported Lemina was set to complete a step to Galatasaray, with the Turkish transfer window open until 11 February. A Galatasaray statement said they had agreed to a fee of € 2.5 million to bring him to the club.

Galatasaray initially offered to take 31-year-old midfielder on loans, but this proposal was rejected by Wolves, and he is now connected to the Super Lig side on a one and a half years of contract with the possibility of a further year.

The central midfielder, Wolves’ reigning player in the season, the club stated in December that he would leave after two years at Molineux, before head coach Varon Pereira said he performed a U-turn in January.

He attracted interest from the Saudi Club Al Shabab, who made an official approach to sign him but their offerings did not meet Wolves’ valuation.

Lemina had six months left on her contract, but Wolves had an opportunity to extend her agreement with a further year.

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“Everyone at Wolves would like to thank Mario for his efforts while he was in the club and wishes him the best of luck in the future,” reads a Wolves declaration.

His move to Turkey sees him return to Galatasaray, the club, where he spent the 2019-20 season on loans, making 28 performances.

Lemina had been a cornerstone of the Wolves side when Gary O’Neil was the main coach who started 15 of the page opening of 16 rounds of this season’s Premier League. He also contained 39 times across all competitions in 2023-24.

However, he was deprived of the Wolves captain in December after a shift after the match with Jarrod Bowen, teammates Nelson Semedo and Toti, and first-team coach Shaun Derry after his side’s defeat against West Ham United.

Following Pereira’s appointment in December, the Lemina was included in the Wolves team only once in eight Premier League matches.

Wolves brought three players in the winter window with the additions of Emmanuel Agbadou, Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga. They return to action against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on Sunday.

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(Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)