Jhon Arias officially said goodbye to Fluminense on Saturday, during a two-hour press conference at the club’s training centre.
The Colombian winger, who is joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in a €22m deal, reflected on his time in Brazil and shared his ambitions for the Premier League in his last press conference for the club, as reported by Globo Esporte.
At 27, Arias described the transfer as the fulfilment of a long-held dream, emphasising that playing in England had always been a goal. “I’ve always said my dream was to play in one of Europe’s top leagues, and now God has given me this opportunity – one that’s good for me and good for the club,” he said.
Arias made it clear that his exit was guided by respect and gratitude, not just personal ambition. “Until the very last day, I honoured this badge and this shirt, which are above anything else. This move allows me to leave a positive legacy for Fluminense while achieving my goal of playing in the best league in the world.”
Although the move takes him to a mid-table Premier League side, Arias was quick to reject the idea that this limited his ambitions. “Going to a club that doesn’t fight for many titles… I don’t see that as an obstacle. Look at Leicester, no one expected them to win the league, and they did it with players like Mahrez and Kanté.”
He added that the project at Wolves was a key factor in his decision: “It’s a project I believe in. They showed me the plans, and there are top players there – I don’t even need to mention André or João Gomes, who came from Flamengo. I believe in the squad and in the manager’s work. I know what they expect from me, and I’m ready to give 100%.”
The winger also made an emotional promise to return to Fluminense in the future. “I will come back to Fluminense, and I say that with complete peace. One of the greatest lessons my grandfather and parents taught me is to be loyal to what you feel. There’s nothing in the world, no amount of money, that can buy your essence, your values.”
Alongside Arias, Fluminense president Mário Bittencourt also addressed the media and defended the club’s handling of the transfer.
He stressed that the deal was not only financially necessary but also part of a long-term plan to give the player his long-awaited move to Europe. “We received two offers last year, one for €7m and one for €12m. With all due respect, it was only right for us to wait. He’s 28 now, and maybe this is his last chance to make that dream come true,” Bittencourt said.
The president also emphasised Arias’ role in ensuring the club was treated fairly during the negotiations. “He told the buying club to do their best so that Fluminense would also benefit. That shows how much he respects us. It was a three-party negotiation: the buying club, the selling club, and the player – and he helped a lot.”
Bittencourt added that, contrary to recent criticism, the operation was positive for all sides. “This is a player who only left Colombia at 23. If he had gone abroad earlier, this moment would’ve come sooner. But it came now, and it came the right way. It’s something we built together. The club, the player, his staff and the buying club.”
Arias is expected to arrive in England today, with the final paperwork to be signed shortly. Fluminense will receive €16.2m from the deal, while Colombian club Patriotas will earn €6m, having agreed to reduce their original 50% stake to make the move possible.
