Strand Larsen signs new Wolves deal two months after £23m move
Norway international commits to Molineux through 2030 after rebuffing Newcastle bids
Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has signed a five-year contract with the club, keeping him at Molineux through 2030 with an option for an extra year, just over two months after Wolves completed his permanent move from Celta Vigo for £23 million.
The 25-year-old Norway international has been capped 21 times. Wolves rejected bids of £50 million and £55 million from Newcastle United in the summer to keep him at Molineux.
Larsen scored 14 goals on loan from Celta Vigo last season, helping Wolves finish 16th in the Premier League before sealing his permanent move in July. This season he has scored two goals, both in the EFL Cup win over West Ham, but has missed the last two games with an Achilles injury.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira described Larsen's commitment as "very good news" for the club and its fans, adding that to rise to another level they need players like Larsen, because it's not only about his tactical and technical ability, it's about his spirit and personality.
"I've been incredibly happy here at Wolves. Signing a new deal shows that my commitment is here, I'm happy here, I love all my friends and teammates, the fans are amazing, and we just want to make it a better season than last year. I've signed a new deal, more years at Wolves, which is perfect for me – the club's happy, I'm happy myself, so I'm ready to get back on the pitch now. The most important thing for me is to come back to the pitch and for us to start winning and get out of the bad start we had."
Internally, it is not viewed as giving him a new contract so soon after he officially joined the club permanently. He has effectively been a full-time Wolves player for 15 months. Newcastle's interest escalated the issue but a new deal would have been spoken about anyway after a successful debut season in the Premier League.
Str Larsen scored 22% of Wolves' goals to help keep them in the top flight after Pereira replaced Gary O'Neil last December. Crucial strikes against Southampton and Ipswich in March and April went a long way to securing safety with five games left, with Wolves hoping he will have a similar impact this season.
Wolves, who sit bottom of the table, host Leeds on Saturday having lost their opening four Premier League games and are hopeful Strand Larsen will be fit enough to make the bench.