Everything you need to know about Thomas Beelen, the centre-back linked to Wolves who could be replacing captain Max Kilman.
The summer transfer window is well underway as Wolves look to improve their squad going into the 2024/25 campaign.
Gary O’Neil has already added to his side over the past month, aiming to improve on their mid-table finish last season.
Rodrigo Gomes joined Wolves in June, with Pedro Lima set to follow in July. However, one position that still needs reinforcements is at the back.
However, Wolves may have now found the man they need as they chase defender Beelen.
In this article, you can find out everything you need to know about Beelen as O’Neil searches for new blood.
Read more: Every confirmed Wolves signing and departure in the 2024/25 season.
What is Thomas Beelen’s age and height?
Beelen was born on June 11, 2001. This makes him 23 years old at the time of writing. He also stands at 1.9 metres which is six foot three inches.
Where was he born?
Beelen was born in Harderwijk, a city in the Netherlands.
What position does Thomas Beelen play?
Beelen has mainly played as a central defender throughout the majority of his career. However, he can also play as a defensive and a central midfielder.
Who does Thomas Beelen currently play for?
As it stands, Beelen plays for Dutch side Feyenoord. He joined the side in 2023 and has now begun to establish himself in the first team. In the 2023/24 campaign, he also won the KNVB Cup after beating NEC 2-1 in the final.
Previously, the 23-year-old had played for PEC Zwolle where he had come through the academy since 2017.
Is Thomas Beelen good?
Beelen is considered to have developed remarkably over the course of the 2023/24 season. After making his debut in the Champions League, the defender made a total of 25 appearances for the club in all competitions where he impressed.
His most eye-catching display came in the Europa League where he restricted Roma’s Romelo Lukaku in the knockout stages.
Former teammate Bram van Polen has compared Beelen to a ‘monster’. He told NOS: ”He’s a big guy. If you tackle that well with strength training, you can turn him into a monster. He was already working on that here in Zwolle.”
Read more: Everything you need to know about Wolves’ latest signing Rodrigo Gomes.
What are his stats?
According to Fbref, Beelen is easily a standout player in the Eredivisie. The defender performs 1.73 tackles and 2.64 aerial duels won per 90 minutes.
However, his establishment as a ball-playing defender is what truly stands out. Per 90 minutes, he averages 81.53 passes attempted, 91.5% passing completion, 8.33 progressive passes and 1.8 progressive carries.
Compared to other centre-backs in the league, this puts him in the top 3% in this department.
Are Wolves interested in Thomas Beelen?
With Wolves’ issues in defence in 2024 combined with West Ham’s links to Kilman, a new centre-half was perhaps needed.
As a result, the latest defender to be linked to Wolves is Beelen. It has been reported that the Old Gold have enquired about Beelen and are believed to be big admirers.
How much would he cost?
The Express and Star reported that Wolves would be able to secure Beelen’s services for just under £17 million.