André Trindade da Costa Neto

André is a 24-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder currently playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, having joined the club in August 2024 for a reported fee of around £22 million. The move represented a significant investment in a player who had already drawn attention for his composure and reading of the game at a young age, and he has since established himself as a regular fixture in Wolves' midfield engine room.

Across 28 appearances in the 2025/26 season, André has accumulated 2,136 minutes of league football, underlining just how central he has become to the team's structure. His season average rating of 6.85 reflects a player who contributes consistently without always catching the eye, which is precisely what a holding midfielder is asked to do. He has chipped in with one goal and operates primarily as a shield in front of the defence, breaking up play and recycling possession rather than driving forward. His last five matches have been a mixed picture: a solid display in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa, a creditable showing in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Molineux, and a difficult evening in the 4-0 defeat at West Ham, where his rating dipped to 6.58, suggesting the defensive structure around him was badly exposed on that occasion.

On the international front, André has been part of Brazil's emerging generation of midfielders, though competition for places in the Selecao remains fierce given the depth of talent available to the national team. At club level, Wolves have leaned on his positional discipline to help stabilise a side that has shown it can compete with top-half opposition, as the draws against Arsenal and Brentford demonstrate. SportSignals' AI analysis engine has tracked Wolves' matches this season and noted the team's tendency to be competitive in individual contests even when the overall league position does not fully reflect their performances.

In his next outing, the areas worth watching are how André manages transitions when Wolves are pressed high, and whether he can maintain his positional shape against opponents who look to exploit space in behind the midfield line. His ability to win the ball cleanly and distribute quickly under pressure will be a key factor in how much control Wolves can assert in the middle of the pitch.