Wolverhampton Wanderers have excluded last season's Player of the Season, Santiago Bueno, from their official squad for the 2026-27 Championship campaign. The decision has provoked a furious reaction from fans as the team struggles with a leaky defence.
Supporters took to social media to voice their disbelief. One fan's reaction, captured by the outlet, was simply: "Unbelievable." The 27-year-old Uruguayan international was a standout performer in the 2025-26 season, earning the club's top individual honour, but now finds himself sidelined as the new season gets underway.
With the English transfer window now closed, his immediate options for first-team football are limited to moves to foreign leagues where markets remain open. The decision appears even more puzzling given the Old Gold's current defensive woes. They have conceded 10 goals in their opening five league matches, a record that places significant pressure on the backline.
The underlying numbers are just as concerning for Gary O'Neil's side. According to Opta data cited in the report, Wolves have conceded those 10 goals from an expected goals against (xGA) total of just 5.68. This underperformance is the third-worst in the Championship. Also, opponents are converting their chances at a rate of 16.67 per cent, the highest shot conversion percentage any team is facing in the division. This context makes the absence of a proven defender like Bueno a major talking point.
The defensive unit will have to regroup without one of its leaders. The summer saw the arrival of experienced forward Bertrand Traoré on a free transfer, but reinforcements at the back were not as prominent. Fans are questioning why other squad members weren't prioritised for exclusion over the Uruguayan centre-back. Supporters can examine the full roster and upcoming challenges on the club's squad and fixtures pages.
The immediate focus shifts to halting the defensive slide. The team's next match is a key Championship fixture, and solidifying the defence will be most important. With Bueno unavailable, the responsibility falls on the remaining defenders to improve those alarming statistics. The club's current standings position reflects the urgency of the situation, sitting lower than desired after the poor start. Wolves' next game is scheduled for Saturday, 19 September 2026, as they look to turn their season around.
