Jhon Arias is a deviation. He moves to Europe at the age of 27. That is unusual, but it also partly explains why wolves feel that they are picking up a bargain. Arias arrives as “one of the best players in South America,” said the former Brazil boss Fernando Diniz.
The biggest clubs in Europe are looking for the best teenagers in Brazil, talent they can change in the next big thing. But the power of the Brazilian competition is at the moment that it means that others like Arias are ready to impress the here and now.
He is undoubtedly a late bloomer. He played in the top flight of Colombia for three different clubs and was almost 24 when he finally left for Brazil in 2021. The 26 Colombians who were seen in the Premier League so far all moved to Europe at a younger age.
But the past four years have not been wasted. Arias has spent them with the hans of his profession at Fluminense, the Copa Libertadores winners of 2023 and more recently Club World Cup semi-finalists in the United States in the summer, surprising European opposition.
In America, Arias showed the world what a nice player he has become. Nobody won more player of the Match Awards. He played against Dortmund and Inter. He created a total of 18 chances of the tournament, 50 percent more than any other player.
For wolves, that was as many worries as a confirmation of his power, where other clubs were warned about the improvement of Arias. There was interest from Saudi Arabia, but the player only wanted to test himself in the Premier League – another positive sign for his progression.
Juan Cruz Real, the former head coach of America de Cali, is not surprised to see Arias bloom. “I have great memories of working with Jhon,” he tells Sky Sports. Together they helped the Colombian club to win the competition title in his home country in 2020.
“At that time he started to show his potential.” The Argentinian coach remembers “a very dynamic player, powerful and very good technical”, but also someone with the right mentality. “He also has a great personality, very modest and just a good person.”
But it was under Diniz at Fluminense that Arias flourished and responded to the unique playing style that the innovative coach preferred. Extreme rotations and a rare level of flexibility saw players popping up all over the field with short steps and combinations.
Arias flourished. Often used on the right flank, he is much more than one up and down -wide player. “In my opinion, he is more of an attacking midfielder than a winger,” says Cruz Real. The Colombian national team has often used it centrally.
From there he can fire shots with both feet, but also combine with teammates. It says that of the 30 players in last season's Brasileirao with the best pass volteating percentage, Arias was the only attack player. It is unusually comfortable in sleek areas.
That was an important part of his game in those glorious days under Diniz. He learned to drive in in those half spaces, to play the game on different rhythms. Arias has the pace to play a transitional game, but also has the close control to break down a defense.
This season he is one of the top six in Brazil for opportunities created and for successful dribbles. Those statistics are helped by having played 12 games so far every minute of Fluminense's. During the club World Cup, only the finalists played more minutes than Arias.
Research by the Cies Observatory at the end of last year indeed showed that Arias is second in the world on only Jules Kounde in terms of minutes played for Club and Country in 2024. Availability is an underrated characteristic and Arias is incredibly robust.
That robustness was emphasized by his former Fluminen teammate Marcelo, who revealed that Arias was known in the dressing room as 'The Little Engine' because he never stopped. Carlos Queiroz, his former coach of the national team, praised his mentality.
All this will encourage wolves that he can make the adjustment. The area within the club should not be concerned with Combiniot Yerson Mosquera who is already located in Molineux and the old Fluminen teammate Andre of Arias in the side.
Wolves did their homework and reached for both who only gave positive reports about his character. Arias's reaction to the semi -final from Fluminense to Chelsea, when he was in tears and apologized to the supporters of the club, was seen as further proof.
With many Spanish and Portuguese speakers at Wolves, the only challenge will be on the field. “I think he will adjust well because of his characteristics,” says Cruz Real. “It is true that he arrives at 27. But he is at a big age, at the height of his achievements.”
Given the importance of resale value, wolves know that they also need younger talent. But that is enough in the team of Vitor Pereira, who has already invested heavily to bring in another right-sided attacker from Celta Vigo, the 21-year-old prospect Fer Lopez.
The feeling at Wolves is that Arias can compete with Lopez on the right, but has the versatility to appear elsewhere, with the possibility that the new signing sessions behind the frontman are linked in the 3-4-2-1 shape that Pereira has developed a good effect.
It is an important area given that Wolves have lost Matheus Cunha, while the departure of the creative wing-back Rayan Ait Nouri could put more to the attackers to make things happen. It needs someone who is ready to hit the ground instead of a project.
The development of talent is of course a priority for wolves, but also their Premier League status. With the contracts of the experienced duo of Pablo Sarabia and Nelson Semedo who have also expired, wolves will trust Arias to have a rapid impact.
But all the indications are that he is ready to do this. Diniz once described it as a “gift” to see such a player waiting for him at Fluminense. Wolves now hope that the acquisition of a player of Arias' assets for less than £ 20 million will be a gift for their fans.