Wolves complete £12.8m signing of a midfielder as Gary O’Neil bolsters his squad on deadline day

• Wolves complete the signing of the midfielder from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg 
• Gary O’Neil took over as manager in August after Julen Lopetegui who left club
• Bellegard joins Manchester City’s Tommy Doyle on loan, and Santiago Bueno

Wolves have signed Ligue 1 team Strasbourg’s Jean-Ricner Bellegarde on a five-year contract.

The midfielder joins on a five-year contract extension until 2028 for a price of £12.8 million.

The 25-year-old can play as a centre midfielder who assists the forwards or in one of the two wide positions.

Bellgarde, who has previously represented France at the youth level, enters at the Molineux with a 129-appearance record for Strasbourg.

He has already had a huge impact this season, recording two goals and two assists in only three games.

‘He’s a guy the recruitment staff flagged towards the end of last season, and he’s started this season extremely well,’ said Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs.

‘He’s athletic, technical, and has the ability to drive with the ball, and his goal and assist totals show that he’s had a good start to the season.’

Bellegarde initiated his professional career at Lens, where he amassed 47 appearances and netted six goals before embarking on his new journey with Wolves.