Dundee managing director explains decision to sell £300k starlet to Wolves

John Nelms has justified Dundee’s call to sell Sebastian Lochhead to Premier League club Wolves on transfer deadline day.

Exciting central defender Lochhead came through the ranks at the Dens Park club having joined at the age of just seven.

He progressed through the youth set-up and made his first appearance for the first-team last year as a 15-year-old against Stirling Albion in a testimonial match.

However, Lochhead did not make his competitive debut for Dundee despite being with the club for most of his life and his clear potential.

Wolves had been following Lochhead for some time and decided to pinch the centre-back from Dundee for a measly £300k at the end of August.

Nelms, speaking to The Courier, stopped short at discussing the fee but explained why it was the right time for Lochhead to move down south.

 

John Nelms justifies Dundee selling Seb Lochhead

Nelms said: “We never talk about money, as you know, but Seb had opportunity to go to a Premier League club. His family was quite keen on it. And we thought at the time, this is the right time for him to go.

“At a very young age, you don’t know what’s going to happen. So we thought it would be best for the football club, best for the player and best for everybody all around that he takes the next step.

“There’s a load of add-ons and things that go along with that. So the club will continue to benefit.

“Seb is a wonderful young man. And as he continues to develop and his career grows, the football club will be a part of that.

“I think there’s times that we’ve held on to players longer than we should have, and we’ve learned from that.

“When is the right time to go? That’s the secret sauce, isn’t it? Having that understanding, there is no 100% right answer. You get it right sometimes, you get it wrong sometimes.

“We make the best decision that we can at the time, and that’s what we’ve done.

“The opportunity for Seb to be at a Premier League club and really take the next step, we think that’s fantastic for him.”

What Wolves said of Lochhead transfer

Wolves’ head of international youth recruitment Harry Hooman said he was impressed with Lochhead’s performances for the Dundee U18s and is excited to see him develop.

Speaking to the official Wolves website, Hooman said of Lochhead’s arrival in August: “Towards the end of the season he got in and around the first-team group and has been with them throughout this pre-season.

“He’s very much a modern day centre-back – very composed and calm with the ball.

“His use of the ball’s very good, he’s got a good range of passing and steps in well, but also has all the physical attributes and tools that we look for in terms of our profile as a centre back.

“We’re excited to see him develop over the next few years.”