Gonçalo Guedes makes Real Sociedad move: “I didn’t fully adapt in England, I want to get back to my best in Spain” | OneFootball

Portugal international Gonçalo Guedes has joined Real Sociedad on a permanent transfer from English side Wolverhampton Wanderers, in a deal worth €4m potentially rising to €6m.

Guedes has signed a three-year contract in San Sebastian, which will see him play for the third Spanish team of his career. The 28-year-old enjoyed five years with Valencia before joining Wolves in 2022, while he spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan with Villarreal, where he impressed enough to earn another chance at Wolves.

However, Guedes has clearly not done enough to convince Vítor Pereira at Molineux. Although Guedes’ spell in England has been a forgettable one, many  Wolves fans have expressed bemusement at the low fee recouped for a player who cost in excess of €32m just three years ago.

However, according to Sky Sports, Wolves were keen to get Guedes’ high wages off the books, while the player was determined to return to Spanish football, where he undoubtedly enjoyed the best form of his career during his time with Valencia. Having made the breakthrough at Benfica, Guedes’ time in Spain saw him establish himself abroad after an initial €30m switch to Paris Saint-Germain proved short-lived.

“The reception has been very good, I’m really enjoying everything,” Guedes said upon his presentation at Real Sociedad. “I’m joining a team that always wants to play good attacking football and keeps possession, and that has ambition – they want to be as high up the table as possible, and that’s important to me. I also want to be as high up as possible.

“The level the team has been showing in recent years and the way they play are reasons I came. I spoke with the coach and know what he wants from me. I have to be offensive, score goals, provide assists, find space behind the defence. For me, the most important thing was knowing that the club always wants to play good football.

“I played here when I was at Benfica, in the Champions League, and they had a great season. La Real has been showing a very good level in recent years, and that has been very important.

“I didn’t fully adapt in England, and here I hope to return to my best level as soon as possible, because I know La Liga, the country, and the language. I’ve already spoken with the coach; I know what he wants from me, and I’m going to give my all, both on and off the pitch.”