DEAL: Wolves sign midfielder Ben Stevenson
Wolves have completed the signing of Coventry midfielder Ben Stevenson – who has been immediately loaned out to Colchester.
The 20-year-old has penned a two-and-a-half year contract and it's believed Wolves have paid a small six-figure fee for the youngster.
Stevenson had played 48 times for the Sky Blues including in their Checkatrade Trophy final win over Oxford last season.
He has been sent straight on loan to Colchester, who like Coventry are in League Two and it's expected he'll be in Wolves' under-23 squad when he returns.
Stevenson said: "I’m really happy to sign for such a massive club with big aspirations, it’s a big personal achievement for me.
"As soon as I knew of the interest I wanted to jump at the chance of joining such a big club.
"I’ve been at Coventry since I was eight years old, it’s the only club I’ve ever been at so it’s got a big place in my heart and I’ll always thank them for everything they did for me but it’s time for me to go the next stage of my career.
"Coming here to start in the development squad, I don’t see it as a step down, it’s going to be a really good standard, there's a lot of good players and it’s the right environment to help me get better.
"One of the things that attracted me here is the amount of players who have come through the academy and have been around the first team, I can see the pathway to it so I just have to set myself the goal to get there.
"I like to get on the ball, receive it and pass it, I’m a possession type player and I think that fits in well here."
On his Colchester switch, the midfielder added: "It’ll be good to get some more league games under my belt, meeting new people and staff is like a fresh start and I’m really looking forward to it.
"My personal ambition now is to play for Wolves and hopefully that will be in the Premier League – that’s what I’m going to work towards."
Stevenson is said to have impressive technical ability and could play in a more advanced role.
Sporting director Kevin Thelwell added: "Ben is a player we’ve watched and liked for a long time, and someone we feel has outstanding technical qualities.
"On that basis, we feel that he has the ability to ultimately play for our first team in the future and we would like to support his development going forwards."
