Mario Lemina completes £9m move to Wolves from Nice in boost to Julen Lopetegui’s midfield options

Mario Lemina has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Wolves after completing a £9million move from Nice.

Wolves had seen two bids rejected by the Ligue 1 side before reaching an agreement for the Gabon international.

Lemina is returning to the Premier League having made 74 appearances in the division during spells at Southampton and Fulham.

Mario Lemina has completed a £9million move to Wolves from Ligue 1 side Nice

The 29-year-old midfielder has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Molineux

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui believes the 29-year-old’s experience will be an asset as he seeks to steer his side away from the Premier League bottom three.

‘Mario is a good player,’ Lopetegui told Wolves’ club website. ‘We know him, he wants to be here, and he knows the English league. 

‘I think that he has the profile to be a good player for us.

‘He has the profile to help us to improve and to be able to improve our performance in the next matches.

‘We have in front of us a very big and hard task, and of course we have to be ready.’

Lemina is expected to provide physicality and technical ability to the heart of Wolves’ midfield

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui had enquired about Lemina when his was in charge of Sevilla

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Lemina spent four years at Southampton before joining Nice in summer 2021. 

While under contract at Saints, the 29-year-old also had spells with Galatasaray and Fulham, and he has played for Juventus, too.

Wolves expected Lemina to bring physicality and technical ability to the heart of their midfield, with his arrival a boost after the loss of Boubacar Traore to injury for the next two months.

The transfer also includes a further 12-month option. 

Lopetegui has admitted further additions to the midfield could be made, with Joao Moutinho also on the sidelines. 

Lemina has previously played in the Premier League for both Southampton and Fulham

‘The transfer window is open, so we have to take advantage because we have problems in this position with few players,’ he said.

‘We also have problems with the injury to Bouba, so we need players in these positions. We have to be ready and now we have to balance this situation.’

Lemina is the second new face at Molineux in January, following the initial loan signing of Matheus Cunha from Atletico Madrid.

Wolves are close to signing Brazilian wonderkid Joao Gomes from Flamengo, with talks are ongoing with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal for attacking midfielder Pablo Sarabia.

Lopetegui’s side currently lie 19th in the Premier League, one point adrift of 17th placed West Ham.

The two teams meet on Saturday in a crucial fixture at the bottom of the table, with Hammers boss David Moyes also criticising Wolves’ pursuit of defender Craig Dawson ahead of the clash.