With Wolverhampton Wanderers sitting at the bottom of the Premier League and staring at a likely relegation, the upcoming January transfer window represents a critical chance for Rob Edwards's side to salvage some pride. While the club has a history of smart signings, their mid-season business has also produced some spectacular failures.
The Definitive List of Wolves' January Failures
We've ranked some of the most disappointing players to arrive at Molineux during the winter window, assessing their impact—or lack thereof—on the club's fortunes.
Tomasz Frankowski: The £1.4 Million Goal Drought
One of the most infamous flops in Wolves' history is Polish striker Tomasz Frankowski. Signed from Elche for £1.4 million in January 2006, he was brought in to fire the then-Championship side to promotion. The move backfired catastrophically. Frankowski famously failed to score a single goal in 16 appearances, struggling to cope with the pace and physicality of English football. He was shipped out on loan the following summer and later had his contract terminated. Rating: 1/10
Eggert Jonsson: The Forgotten Man
Icelandic utility player Eggert Jonsson joined from Hearts for around £500,000 in January 2012. His time at the club coincided with disaster, as Wolves were relegated from the Premier League that season. Jonsson managed just three league appearances during the run-in and only seven in total for the club. Remarkably, he outlasted several managers before having his contract terminated in 2013, with two years still remaining. Rating: 1/10
Willian Jose: The High-Profile Loan Flop
Perhaps the most high-profile disappointment was Brazilian striker Willian Jose. Arriving on loan from Real Sociedad in January 2021, he had been a consistent scorer in La Liga. His form utterly deserted him in England, however, as he found the net just once in 18 appearances for Wolves. The loan spell was deemed a total failure, and he promptly returned to Spain. Rating: 2/10
More Winter Window Disappointments
The list of underwhelming signings doesn't end there. Academy graduate Leon Clarke returned to the club for £750,000 in January 2014 while Wolves were in League One. He scored only three goals in 32 games before later reviving his career at Sheffield United. Rating: 3/10
An arguably more contentious inclusion is winger Daniel Podence. Signed for a significant £17 million from Olympiacos in 2020, he showed early promise but ultimately failed to deliver consistently. With 16 goals in 108 games, he was eventually frozen out by manager Gary O'Neil and left permanently in 2024. Rating: 5/10
As Wolves prepare for another crucial January window, the club's history serves as a stark warning. While new signings can provide a lifeline, choosing the wrong player can be an expensive mistake that lingers long in the memory of supporters.
