Rochdale AFC can confirm that Academy graduate Luke Matheson has today completed a move to Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 17-year-old joins Wolves on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee but returns to Dale on-loan for the remainder of the season.
Matheson is a product of the successful Rochdale Academy, having been with the Club since the age of nine.
He made his first team debut at just 15-years-old in September 2018 and scored his first goal for the Club against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup a year later.
The England Under-18 international signed his first professional contract with the Club in October 2019, shortly after his 17th birthday, and has established himself as a regular in Brian Barry-Murphy’s side this season.
Chief Executive David Bottomley commented: “We’re delighted that this deal has allowed Luke to come back to the Club on-loan for the remainder of the season, given how well he has performed, and that was a major factor in the negotiations with Wolves.
“The deal is another which follows the Rochdale model of containing a myriad of add-on clauses which could potentially benefit us in years to come.
“Ever since we sold Craig Dawson in 2010, the Club has included future add-ons that are designed to benefit us down the line, and that is the same with this deal.
“We’re also delighted for Luke, who has gone from being a scholar with Rochdale to signing for a Premier League club in just six months.
“He is another outstanding product of our Academy and we would like to thank all of the coaching staff who have had a hand in his development since the age of nine.”
Since joining the Club’s Academy aged nine, Matheson has risen through the ranks to become one of the most talked about teenagers in English football.
He first appeared for the Youth Team aged 14 in August 2017, becoming a key member of the side that won the EFL Youth Alliance League North West title in 2017/18.
The full-back made his first team debut aged 15 years and 336 days in a Checkatrade Trophy tie against Bury, earning Man of the Match.
His EFL debut came against Fleetwood Town in January 2019 before earning a call-up to the England Under-17 squad a month later, making his international debut in a 3-2 win over France.
The youngster’s first EFL start came against Sunderland in August, in the same week he picked up his GCSE results, before scoring a memorable equaliser at Old Trafford in September.
He made five appearances for England Under-18s across October and November at the end of last year, along with putting pen-to-paper on a professional contract.
Matheson’s first EFL goal came against Bolton Wanderers earlier this month. In total, he has made 31 appearances for the Club so far.
Congratulations, Luke!