Kieran Trippier speaks in his first sit down interview on making the decision to join recently relegated Wolves.
Rob Edwards’ side lost their place in the Premier League back in April, but have wasted no time in making their side promotion contenders for the 2026/27 Championship season.
Not only have they brought in Kieran Trippier, who left Newcastle at the end of the season with his contract expired, signing a two year deal with Wolves, but their former striker Raul Jimenez is also coming in on a free transfer having been released by Fulham.
Sitting down with our newest signing, for his first interview since joining the club.
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On signing for Wolves, Trippier said, per the club website: “I’m absolutely delighted to be here. They’re long days, doing your medicals and things like this, but I’m just looking forward to pre-season now for my new club.
“I’m really looking forwards to it, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Of course, I was playing against Barcelona and teams like that last year, but I’m not afraid to drop down a league and try and help the club get back up.
“I think a lot of people know me in the game, what my character is, I like to lead, I like to use my voice on and off the pitch, and I tried to do that at Newcastle, and help them get out of relegation, and we took off as a club there. I want to use my experience here and help the team be successful, help the club be successful, and do as well as I can when I play, and when I don’t play, to help my teammates.
“It’s something that I’m really excited about. There were other clubs interested in me, but I wanted to come here. I just look forward to coming back in pre-season, meet all the teammates, meet the manager again, and just get started with Wolves.”
On Edwards’ influence: “I had a good chat with the manager, and what struck me first was how passionate he was for helping the club move forward to get out of the Championship next season. You just have a feeling straight away and I felt that chemistry straight away with the manager.
“I’ll also be closer to my kids, which is the most important thing for me, but I’ve also played here many times with three different clubs, so I know exactly what the fans are all about. I’ve heard it’s a great environment with the players, so it was an easy decision.
“I’ve been in this position loads of times in my career where I like a challenge. I did that when I signed for Newcastle, and I’m doing it here now at Wolves, and the aim is to help the lads on and off the pitch and try and be successful next season.”
On the decision to join: “Wolves is a massive club. When I signed for Newcastle when they were 19th, I got a lot of criticism for different reasons, but I was justified by moving in the end, and it’s the same here as well. I feel like it’s a bit of déjà vu again, but I want to help the club.
“I’m 35, but I’m still hungry, I still want success, and hopefully my experience on and off the pitch can help the lads and the young players as well – most importantly – and be successful as a club.
“It’s always tough to play here at Molineux as an opposition player. I’ve had a lot of battles against Wolves with three different clubs, so I know the fans are really good, it’s a nice stadium, and I can’t wait to experience it as a Wolves player.
“We had a difficult game against Wolves the last season just gone, nil-nil, so it’s always a very tough ground to come to play at, but I’m just really excited now to get started in pre-season, to play in front of the fans, and meet my new teammates.”
On getting to know his new teammates: “I was speaking to Joelinton, and he’s an absolute unit as well, but he was playing Andre and he told me he had a tough battle. Mane is a very good player, and he played on the game at Molineux against me, but he’s a very, very good player and I’m really looking forward to meeting him and training with him.
“I obviously know Sam [Johnstone] very well because we played at England together, so I’m looking forward to meeting all the lads and having a good pre-season with them to get that connection. Hopefully there will be more signings to come who can also help the team and help the club move forward and get promoted.”
On what Wolves need next season: “Positivity is the main one. The most important thing is that we stick together because it is going to be a demanding season, and as player, we’ve got to give everything – that’s all we can do for the fans. That’s what the fans demand and expect, that regardless of the result, you’re giving absolutely everything for the shirt.
“I’m sure the players will do that because there is one goal and one objective for us this season and that’s to go back up to the Premier League. I’m not saying that by being arrogant or anything, but you just you need to be positive and you need to be ruthless in this game.
“Hopefully we’ll have a good pre-season, and then hopefully it’ll be another successful season for the club, because the club don’t want to be in the Championship. Wolves is a massive club, and they deserve to be in the Premier League, and hopefully this season we can bring a lot of positivity into the fans, the club, and I’m sure the players will give absolutely everything.”
On returning to the Championship: “Back when I played in the Championship, there were little things like nutrition, and all the recovery, but it’s totally different now from back when I was playing there with Burnley and Barnsley. There are more younger players, the recovery and nutrition are more advanced, the training facilities are better, so it’s all completely changed from when I was in the Championship. But I’m really excited to come back and play in the Championship with Wolves, and I just can’t wait to get started.
“It was an amazing feeling to win promotion with Burnley, because the season before we nearly got relegated, and then the season after we got promoted. I know how hard the Championship is and I know how hard it is to get out of the league, and that’s a prime example.
“We nearly get relegated and then the season after we get promoted, so it’s going to be a tough season, it’s going to be a demanding season, but the most important thing is that we stick together. “There are going to be difficult moments next season, it’s never going to be smooth sailing, and that will just show the character of the team, because there are some fantastic players in this squad, so I’m here to help the team. I want to get promoted, I don’t want to stay in the Championship, and that’s why I’m here to help the team try and go back up.”
On what he wants to achieve with Wolves: “As long as the fans recognise and realise that I’m giving everything for the club on the pitch, trying to be as successful as I can, not just me personally, but as a team.
“But now, in these days, there’s plenty of things going on around nutrition and how you look after yourself, and there are plenty of things that you can do to extend your career.
“Look at Ashley Young, for example, he’s just retired at 41 so hopefully I can still be playing after 38 and 39 because I love the game so much, and I look after myself, but hopefully by the time my contract ends, the Wolves fans will remember me as someone who gave everything for the club.”
Check out what Rob Edwards had to say on the signing by clicking HERE, or to read what technical director Matt Jackson said, clicking HERE.