What Jeff Shi said when Wolves signed Nelson Semedo reveals ominous club changes

Overdue change is happening at Wolves as the club is undergoing a restructuring at the top. 

Sporting director Matt Hobbs parted ways with Wolves, marking the start of a reshuffle on the recruitment side.

Jorge Mendes and Valdir Cardoso are back on the scene to give Vitor Pereira a greater say, and a helping hand, in transfers.

After flirting with relegation over the 2024/25 campaign, it’s imperative that Wolves get the summer transfer window right, which prompted changes at the top.

The penny has finally dropped for Fosun, who are reported to have realised the need to refresh things to allow the club to progress, something that fans have been yearning for.

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Jeff Shi statement makes Wolves’ decline clear

Wolves’ owners aren’t in the clear just yet, as Fosun’s role in the Old Gold’s decline cannot be ignored.

That being said, it’s positive to see some movement from those at the top, particularly amid a crucial summer transfer window.

Transfers often highlight the decline and progression of a club, as the calibre of players that are able to be lured fluctuates based on results, finances and the overall package of the project.

Though Pereira transformed Wolves after his arrival in December, Fosun and chairman Jeff Shi have neglected the squad with lack of financial backing and desire to kick on.

The way that Wolves have declined is clear by one transfer, as Shi’s outlook on Wolves’ model was completely different when Nelson Semedo arrived in 2020. 

When Semedo was unveiled, Shi described Wolves’ ‘core values’ as being progressive, something that ultimately paved the Portugal international’s way to Molineux from Barcelona. 

“’Progressive at heart’ is one of our core values at Wolves. For a member of staff, for a player, for the whole club, we are all making great efforts to progress continuously,” Shi said, via Wolves’ official website. 

“It isn’t often that we have the opportunity to sign a world-class player from a world-class club,” he continued.

“Nelson’s signing shows we will never stop progressing, and we are still hungry and humble in our heart.”

Shi believed five years ago that Wolves would ‘never stop progressing’, doubling down on the club’s ‘hunger’ to strive for more, something that couldn’t be more different to now. 

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Shi has single-handedly highlighted Wolves’ slip

After making those comments almost five years ago, Shi made a remarkably contrasting statement last year. 

In May 2024, Wolves’ chairman fired an ominous warning to fans, stating that if they want to support a club that pursues trophies or European football, then the Old Gold aren’t the right choice. 

SeasonPremier League finish2018/197th2019/207th2020/2113th2021/2210th2022/2313th2023/2414th2024/2516thWolves’ Premier League finishes since promotion

“If you only pursue trophies or consistent European football, Wolves might not be an ideal choice.”

Shi also insisted that he’d ‘rather the upward curve be slow and flat than fast and zigzag’, but the numbers show that the only way Wolves are going is downwards.

The chairman’s admission has exposed the Wolves hierarchy’s dip in desire to strive for the top, something that only those at the summit can change.