Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MARSHALL Munetsi is now a TWENTY MILLION DOLLAR MAN.
Not bad for a boy from Mabvuku who pursued his dreams to become a professional footballer.
The Zimbabwe international set a new benchmark for local footballers after his deadline day move to English Premiership side Wolverhampton Wanderers last night.
The fee is believed to be around €20 million (about US$20.5 million).
It eclipses all the previous transfer records for Zimbabwean football stars.
Munetsi is now the most expensive Zimbabwean footballer after shattering Tino Kadewere’s €15 million fee to French Ligue 1 side Lyon from Le Havre in 2020.
Warriors skipper Marvelous Nakamba was also involved in a big money move when he joined Aston Villa from Belgian outfit Club Brugge for a deal worth around €12 million a few years ago.
Munetsi had his medical yesterday in Paris after the two clubs agreed on the transfer deal.
It will reunite him with former teammate at Reims Emmanuel Agbadou, who was also dispatched to Wolves for a similar €20 million fee.
The transfer fee represents a significant turnaround for the Zimbabwean midfielder, who just two years ago was valued at around €5m by football website, Transfrmrkt.
Munetsi emerged as the Wolves’ prime target on the transfer deadline day as Vítor Pereira’s side have been working on improving their midfield during this window following a difficult outing in the current EPL campaign.
Wolves are also home to another Zimbabwean international Tawanda Chirewa and striker Leon Chiwome who also carries Zimbabwean heritage.
They moved out of the bottom three at the weekend following their 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
Munetsi is set to replace midfielder Mario Lemina, who was also set to go the other way after agreeing a €2.5million move to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
The Gabon international started the current season as Wolves’ captain and had just won Supporters’ Player of the Season for 2023/24.
Mathew Masinge