Wolverhampton Wanderers have officially announced the signing of Kieran Trippier, marking their first significant addition following relegation from the Premier League.
The 35-year-old right-back joins on a free transfer after a four-year stint with Newcastle United.
The deal, understood to be a two-year contract with the option of a third year, represents a major statement of intent from the Midlands side as they prepare for life in the Championship. Trippier, who recently returned from a family holiday, is expected to undergo a routine medical in the coming days before fully integrating with his new teammates.
Manager Rob Edwards views the former England international as a key leader who can help drive the club’s promotion push. With extensive top-flight and European experience, Trippier brings composure, set-piece expertise, and defensive know-how to a squad looking to bounce back quickly.
Edwards said: “I’m so happy to bring him here. When we met, it was evident that he really wants to come to Wolves.
“We know what we’ve lacked this year, and we know what we need next year – experience, leadership, resilient characters and strong characters – that’s what we’re going to need in abundance, and Tripps ticks every box. From quality to experience to leadership to know how, and he also has a real hunger. He wants to help us get promoted again, and this is really something for us to achieve.”
Wolves Executive Chairman Jeff Shi said the arrival of Trippier “shows just how ambitious we want to be.”
“We know the challenge ahead of us in the Championship, but Kieran’s signing shows just how ambitious we want to be. We are excited to see him add his professionalism, character and exceptionally high standards to the squad and help drive the football club forward,” Shi added.
Wolves Technical Director, Matt Jackson, noted that Trippier was the club’s number one target.
“It’s really pleasing to us that he’s decided to commit to Wolves, but I think it’s testimony to everybody at the football club, the supporters, as well as the people internally, that the thrill of this football club can appeal to someone who’s had the career that Kieran has had,” Jackson said.
Trippier’s career highlights include winning La Liga with Atletico Madrid and earning 54 caps for England. His crossing ability and delivery from dead-ball situations have long been standout features—qualities that could prove invaluable in the physically demanding second tier.
Newcastle United allowed Trippier to leave as a free agent at the end of last season. Despite interest from other clubs, the defender chose Wolves, drawn by the project’s ambition and the chance to play regularly under Edwards.
The England international was originally signed by Newcastle in January 2022 from Atletico Madrid. At the time, Newcastle were battling intense relegation concerns, and he quickly became a key figure in stabilizing the defense and boosting team morale.
Newcastle paid an initial fee of £12 million for the former Tottenham defender, with potential add-ons taking the total value higher. He went on to make 160 appearances for Newcastle United across all competitions, including 118 Premier League games where he contributed four goals and 10 assists.
Critically, he also helped the Magpies secure the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) during the 2024–25 season, when they defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium.
