Wolves defender Toti has just inked a fresh five-and-a-half-year contract at Molineux.
The 25-year-old is having his best season under Gary O’Neil so far, settling in nicely on the left side of Wolves’ back three and consistently delivering solid performances.
After kicking off his football journey later than many of his peers, Toti joined Wolves in September 2020 from Estoril and was promptly loaned out to Grasshoppers in Switzerland. There, he excelled in the Swiss Challenge League, helping his loan club secure the league title and maintain their position in the top tier with 53 appearances and three goals.
With Wolves facing a shortage of defenders in January 2022, Toti was called back and immediately thrust into action in a 3-1 Premier League victory over Southampton at Molineux. He continued to impress, making five appearances under Bruno Lage that season.
In the following season, Toti proved to be a valuable asset as a left-back during the final stretch, scoring his first goal with a towering header against Aston Villa, essentially securing the club’s Premier League status.
Under Gary O’Neil, Toti initially started the season on the bench but a switch to a back three in a win against Manchester City at Molineux marked a turning point. Since then, he has been a regular starter, even earning his first senior Portugal cap.
His impressive play, including a notable assist to Hee Chan Hwang against Newcastle United, has been crucial for Wolves. During the recent victory over Chelsea, Toti celebrated his 50th appearance for the club.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs praised Toti’s dedication on and off the pitch, highlighting his athleticism and positive attitude. Hobbs emphasised that Toti has truly earned his place in the team and expects him to continue striving for improvement, aiming to become a key player for both Wolves and Portugal.
MATT HOBBS
“With Toti, what you get is someone who gives absolutely everything and provides different variation – his athleticism has given us real balance across the back. He’s a great guy to have around, a really positive person, driven and a full international now.
“I say it a lot, because they’re the type of people we want to bring in, but he’s great around the place, while still having a huge amount of humility. He wants to be the best player he can be every single day and he trains well. To earn contracts here, people have to earn them with what they do on the pitch and off the pitch, and Toti’s earned it.
“He’ll want to kick on. He’ll want to be a starter for Portugal, and he knows the best way to do that is putting in great performances with us. He knows he still has lots of things to do, but with his personality, he’ll make sure he keeps striving. I’ve got no doubt that he’ll keep improving for sure.”
TOTI
“I think day by day, but of course, I’m very grateful for this long-term contract. I will keep working and give more and more. I’m really happy to wear this shirt every time we’re on the pitch, especially when we play at Molineux in front of the fans, it’s such a great feeling.”