Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare forces training cancellation amid transfer dispute

Wolverhampton Wanderers' 25‑year‑old Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare sat on the pre‑season training pitch on Monday and refused to leave when instructed by new head coach César Peixoto. The standoff forced the club to cancel the session and deploy extra security at the Compton Park facility. The protest is linked to a transfer dispute: Wolves have accepted a bid from Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor, while Arokodare has publicly demanded a move to Serie A club Fiorentina. The player later used Instagram and X to deny media reports of a “bust‑up”, calling the coverage inaccurate and reiterating his commitment to the club under his contract. The incident follows a previous April disciplinary issue involving teammate Mateus Mane. Wolves, relegated from the Premier League last season, are also under scrutiny for allegedly contravening FIFA’s new rule that bars clubs from isolating players in training to pressure transfers. The saga continues to dominate the club’s pre‑season narrative.