Fer Lopez ranks just behind Kylian Mbappe in stat that will get Wolves fans off their seats

Wolves have announced the signing of Fer Lopez from Celta Vigo on a long-term deal.

After the high-profile departures of Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri, the Spaniard becomes the first summer signing through the door at Molineux.

Lopez’s first words as a Wolves player should bring a smile to fans, with the 21-year-old saying that he’s ‘very excited’ to be working with Vitor Pereira and that the club is ‘going to play good football, attractive football’.

This is reinforced by one metric in which Lopez compares to current Real Madrid star, Kylian Mbappe.

Photo by Alberto Gardin/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Fer Lopez completed a similar number of dribbles to Kylian Mbappe last season

Playing as a winger or just behind the striker, one Celta Vigo expert compared Lopez to Jude Bellingham because of his strong physique, running power, and ability to play as a box-to-box midfielder.

The young Spaniard’s dribbling stats also put him in a league alongside World Cup winner Mbappe.

As reported by The Athletic, ‘of all players to play 600 or more minutes in La Liga last season, Lopez was 11th for dribbles completed per 90 minutes.’

Player Team Dribbles completed Lamine Yamal Barcelona 5.06 Vinicius Jr Real Madrid 3.27 Nico Williams Athletic Bilbao 3.06 Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid 2.56 Fer Lopez Celta Vigo 2.43 Dribbles completed per 90 minutes in the 2024/25 La Liga season, per The Athletic

Completing 2.43 dribbles per 90 minutes, Lopez was just behind Mbappe, the Frenchman having completed 2.56 for Real Madrid.

MORE WOLVES STORIES

The former Celta Vigo midfielder also wasn’t far off the likes of Vinicius Jr and Nico Williams, with both completing 3.27 and 3.06 dribbles per 90, respectively.

While Lopez hasn’t been signed as a Cunha replacement, the 21-year-old’s ability here could be reminiscent of the Brazilian’s, with Cunha’s ability to go past his defender in one-vs-one situations vital to Wolves’ creativity and goalscoring.

It should also get home fans off their seats next season, with that creative flair universally adored by football fans, especially at a time when the game is becoming more system-focused.

Fer Lopez has ‘the ingredients to become one of the top players in Europe’

In further good news to Wolves fans, Lopez is predicted to “become one of the top players in Europe,” according to one Celta Vigo expert.

Speaking to Wolves’ official website, Radio Marca Vigo presenter Jose Riviero explained that Lopez was considered by Celta as “one of the club’s brightest young prospects” before his move away.

Riviero continued: “He’s still very young and has played only about 15 games with the first team so far, but he had already made a name for himself in the youth teams.

“His development has been steady, and his recent integration into the first team has shown that he’s ready to take the next step.

“If he continues on this path of development, there’s no doubt he can become one of the top players in Europe. He has all the ingredients: talent, physique, mentality and work ethic.”

Riviero even added that if Lopez “continues developing physically while combining that with his talent, he could become a standout player in England.”

Granted, the midfielder has a lot still to work on, but with words like this from someone who has watched him week in, week out, Wolves fans should be getting excited.

Click here to read article