Wolverhampton made a decision to build around André after relegation from the Premier League. The Brazilian midfielder chose to stay despite interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The midfielder had been widely expected to leave Molineux following Wolves’ disastrous 2025/26 campaign, that ended with relegation to the Championship.
Instead, the club made it clear there would be no scenario in which André would be allowed to leave this summer.
According to Brazil’s Trivela, Wolves’ planning for the new season revolved around keeping the former Fluminense player. At the same time, they accepted João Gomes was the one most likely to move on.
The club wanted to raise money through player sales, but saw the Aston Villa-bound midfielder as the obvious player to sacrifice. André was viewed as one of the key figures in the push for an immediate return to the Premier League.
That thinking also explains the new contract André signed at the end of May. He’s tied to Wolves until 2030.
Wolves made their commitment clear
According to the Brazilian outlet, Wolves knew asking André to stay in the Championship meant showing just how highly they rated him.
Premier League players usually take a significant wage cut after relegation because of clauses in their contracts. Wolves went in the opposite direction. Rather than allowing André’s salary to fall, they reportedly protected him from that reduction. Furthermore, they even handed him a pay rise as part of his renewal.
The improved deal was also meant to match the club’s firm stance on his future. Having decided André would not be sold under any circumstances, Wolves wanted to show they valued him enough to keep him despite the interest from elsewhere.
Trivela adds the club took a similar approach with other players they considered essential for the promotion campaign. They used the financial support Premier League clubs receive during their first season after relegation.
The plan worked. André reportedly felt appreciated by both the new contract and the confidence Wolves showed in him, making the decision to stay a straightforward one despite dropping into the Championship.
Interest came from some of Europe’s biggest clubs
The report also reveals the level of interest André attracted before committing his future to Wolves.
Juventus are said to have opened talks over a possible move ahead of the January transfer window, while another unnamed Premier League club also made contact.
Liverpool had admired the Brazilian long before that. Trivela says the Reds even submitted an official €30m offer before André eventually joined Wolves from Fluminense in 2024.
Once the new contract was signed, though, Wolves and the player’s camp were on the same page. Therefore, any conversations with interested clubs were brought to an end before the summer window really got going.
Wolves want André to be one of the faces of their promotion push. If everything goes to plan, they can revisit a transfer once they’re back in the Premier League.
The belief is that both club and player will then be in a much stronger position to agree a move that works for everyone.
