Wolves close in on £1.3m deal for Sporting goalkeeper Joao Virginia | OneFootball

Wolves are closing in on the £1.3million signing of Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Joao Virginia. The move forms part of a shake-up that will also see John Ruddy return on a free.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the 26-year-old former Everton keeper will join, while Ruddy is set to arrive as third choice after leaving Newcastle at the end of last season. He replaces Dan Bentley after his move to Coventry City last week.

As things stand, Josa Sa is expected to remain No.1 this season, with Sam Johnstone likely to depart before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Despite being born and raised in Portugal, Virginia qualifies as homegrown after coming through Arsenal’s academy before moving to Everton. He made only eight appearances for the Toffees and had loans at Reading and Belgian side Cambuur, then joined Sporting on a free last summer.

Ruddy is a familiar figure at Molineux, virtually ever present in the 2017-2018 Championship title campaign. He later slipped down the order following Rui Patricio’s arrival after promotion, yet remained popular before leaving in 2022.

After two years as first-choice at Blues, he joined the Magpies in 2024 but did not make a first-team appearance and was released earlier this summer. Johnstone’s future has been in doubt since the end of last season and he is among several players who could leave before the deadline. Defender Ki-Jana Hoever has already joined Sparta Prague for a fee understood to be around £1.7million.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com

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