Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced that defender Yerson Mosquera has completed a loan move to Villarreal.

When Mosquera arrived at Molineux in 2021, he was tipped to emerge as a key player over time, but the Colombian has been restricted to just one eight-minute appearance.

However, throughout 2023, Mosquera was able to kick-start his career in MLS with FC Cincinnati, making a total of 35 appearances for a team that won the Eastern Conference.

Although Cincinnati suffered heartbreak in the Conference Playoff Finals, the 22-year-old was able to return to the West Midlands having significantly enhanced his reputation.

Mosquera has since been selected on the substitutes' bench for the FA Cup games against Brentford and Monday night's Premier League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion.

He remained unused, though, and at a time when he is effectively fifth choice centre-back at Wolves, the decision has been made for Mosquera to try to make an impact in La Liga.

Sporting director Matt Hobbs told the club's official website: "Yerson had a fantastic loan at Cincinnati, being one of the highest performing centre-backs in the league.

"What we've seen really excites us for next season. It was a difficult decision, as we could have kept him around, but we wanted him to get a bit more football week in, week out, ready to come back and fight for a starting spot next season.

"He's going to a big club, in a good league, with big games, which should secure more international football for him, so it's almost a finishing school, before he comes back to compete here.

"It's a challenge – settling, getting used to a different league, a difference pace and type of football to the MLS. A player who can adapt and react quickly becomes a very well-rounded player, which will help us in the future."

Mosquera will hope to break into a team that currently sit in 14th position in the La Liga standings, as many as 12 points adrift of the top seven.

Being five points above the bottom three, the current aim is to avoid a relegation battle, while Villarreal will also compete in the last 16 of the Europa League in March.

Villarreal are next in action when they make the trip to face Barcelona on Saturday. body check tags ::