If you play EA FC 26, you might notice Wolves have their highest-rated squad in years. Yet on the pitch, the club is living through one of the worst Premier League runs any fan can remember. Emmanuel Agbadou carries an 79 overall in the game — the best the club has seen since Ruben Neves — while Wolves sit near the bottom of the table with just 2 points from their opening matches. The disconnect between digital ratings and real-life results tells a complicated story about money, youth development, and a club caught between ambition and financial reality.

Highest-rated player (EA FC 26): Emmanuel Agbadou · Points after 10 matches: 2 · Worst start in Premier League history: Matched · Highest-paid player (est.): Pablo Sarabia (£80,000/week) · Youngest-ever bench player: Wesley Okoduwa (15)

Who is Wolves’ highest-rated player?

Emmanuel Agbadou sits at the top of Wolves’ EA FC 26 ratings with a 79 overall — the highest the club has achieved since Ruben Neves carried an 82 in FC 24. According to the EA SPORTS FC official ratings page, Agbadou shares the club’s highest rating with Toluwalase Arokodare, who also earned a 79 overall in the game.

EA Sports FC 26 Wolves top ratings

• Emmanuel Agbadou: 79 overall
• Toluwalase Arokodare: 79 overall
• Ladislav Krejčí: 78 overall
• Jhon Arias: 78 overall
• João Gomes: 78 overall
• André: 78 overall

Highest-rated Wolves player in history

The previous benchmark for Wolves in the EA FC series was Ruben Neves, who reached 82 overall during his time at Molineux. Neves departed for Al Hilal in 2023 in a deal worth around £47m, as BBC Sport reported. The drop from 82 to Agbadou’s 79 represents both a change in the player and a change in the club’s standing — Wolves are no longer the Europa League contenders they were when Neves arrived.

Who is the 15 year old on the bench for Wolves?

Wesley Okoduwa was 15 years old when he was named on Wolves’ bench for a Premier League match against Fulham on 20 April 2024. The club announced the decision on their official Facebook page, describing Okoduwa as “one of four Wolves Academy players hoping to make their debut.” The post confirmed he became the second youngest player ever named in a Premier League matchday squad, according to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

Wesley Okoduwa profile

Okoduwa operates primarily as a right-back and has represented England at the under-16 level. His inclusion on the bench came as part of Wolves’ strategy to blood youth players amid financial constraints that limit spending on established first-team options. The young defender also appeared in EAFC Career Mode databases, where he was listed as a high-potential “wonderkid” prospect for gamers to develop.

Youngest players in Premier League history

Okoduwa’s case sits alongside other notable teenage debuts in Premier League history, though he had not yet made an appearance on the pitch at the time of his bench inclusion. The record for youngest Premier League starter remains with Harvey Elliott, but Okoduwa’s presence in a matchday squad at 15 signals Wolves’ willingness to invest in youth when transfer budgets cannot stretch to experienced replacements.

Are Wolves on for the worst Premier League season ever?

Wolves entered the 2025/26 season with just 2 points from their opening 10 matches — one draw and nine losses. As The Athletic reported, the club found itself “marooned on two points at the foot of the Premier League table” with a results record that placed them among the worst starts in the competition’s history.

Current season record

The 2025/26 campaign has seen Wolves lose their first seven league matches before securing a single point. The pattern mirrors historical lows set by Derby County in 2007/08 and Sheffield United in 2020/21, both of which finished with around 11 points total. If Wolves maintained their early-season form, projections suggested a similarly devastating final tally.

Comparison to worst Premier League seasons

Derby County’s 2007/08 season remains the benchmark for Premier League failure — they earned just 11 points across 38 matches. Sheffield United’s 2020/21 campaign produced 23 points, but their start was comparably poor. Wolves’ opening sequence placed them on pace to challenge these records, with The Athletic’s analysis framing the club as approaching “worst team in Premier League history” territory based on points per game.

Who is Wolves’ highest paid player?

Pablo Sarabia is estimated as Wolves’ highest-paid player at approximately £80,000 per week. The Spanish international joined from Paris Saint-Germain and carries a wage that reflects his experience and previous clubs, though his performance output has not consistently matched the salary expectations at Molineux.

Current wage bill

Wolves’ 13-month wage bill for the 2024/25 period reached £163m, which Matchday Finance reported as equivalent to £150.4m on a 12-month adjusted basis. The figure represents a significant cost burden that consumes the majority of the club’s revenue, creating pressure under both Profit and Sustainability Rules and forthcoming Squad Cost Rules that cap player spending at 85% of revenue.

Highest earners comparison

Previously, Raul Jimenez commanded the highest salary at approximately £100,000 per week before his departure in 2024. The reduction from Jimenez to Sarabia represents part of Wolves’ strategy to lower the wage ceiling while maintaining Premier League revenue. The Esk’s analysis notes that player-related expenditure reached 94.2% of revenue — uncomfortably close to the 85% threshold that will become mandatory.

Are Wolves struggling financially?

Wolves posted a loss of £11.6m for the 2024/25 financial period, according to The Esk’s independent analysis of the club’s annual report. While the figure represents an improvement from previous years, the underlying financial structure remains under pressure from wage obligations and limited revenue growth.

FFP constraints

The club’s net player transfer spend reached £160.7m over the period covered by their 2022/23 accounts, as BBC Sport reported. That heavy investment, made under previous managers Bruno Lage and Julen Lopetegui, created a cost base that now exceeds what the current squad’s league position can sustain. Profit and Sustainability Rules limit losses to £105m over three seasons, forcing Wolves to balance books through player sales.

Why Wolves sold key players

Matheus Cunha’s move to Manchester United on 1 June 2025 activated his £62.5m release clause, generating a trading profit estimated at £30-35m after costs, according to Stefan Borson’s Substack analysis. The sale materially improved Wolves’ PSR position for the 2024/25 cycle and helped the club extend its financial reporting period to 13 months, moving the year-end from May to 30 June, as Matchday Finance documented. Despite generating a record £117m player trading profit, Wolves still reported a loss and saw net liabilities worsen.