Fabio Silva has revealed Wolverhampton Wanderers refused to sanction a permanent departure until this summer, when he finally joined Borussia Dortmund. The 23-year-old striker admitted years of loan spells left him frustrated and craving stability before his deadline-day switch to the Bundesliga.
The Portuguese forward, who cost Wolves €40m when he arrived from Porto in 2020, said he wanted to move earlier but the club kept him tied down, leaving annual loans as his only option.
Silva on why Wolves exit came so late
Speaking to Ruhr Nachrichten, Silva opened up about his struggles for stability during his years at Molineux.
“As a footballer, you want stability. I like to stay in one place and build something for myself. It wasn’t quite so easy with Wolverhampton. I wanted to move earlier – but they wouldn’t let me go. But I didn’t have any prospects either. So, a loan was the only option.” — Fabio Silva
He added that while constant loans were not part of his plan, they gave him experience: “Of course, it wasn’t my plan to be loaned out every year. But I had no other choice. And there was something good about it: at 23, I’ve already gained a lot of experience and can handle many situations today.”
Years of loans and stalled progress
Silva never truly established himself at Wolves, despite his price tag and reputation as a future star. Instead, he was sent on loan spells with Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers and Las Palmas. While those moves gave him valuable game time, they denied him the stability he craved.
Injury delays Dortmund debut
Although Silva secured his long-awaited move to Borussia Dortmund in August, his debut has been delayed by a hamstring injury picked up in training. He has yet to feature for his new club but could finally make his first appearance this weekend against Mainz.
| Stat (2025/26) | Fabio Silva |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 0 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Injury | Hamstring |
source: Bundesliga squad data – 25 September 2025
Dortmund officials remain confident Silva can provide a new dimension to their attack once fit.
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes Dortmund represents Silva’s chance at a fresh start:
“Fabio Silva’s Wolves career was undermined by instability. Dortmund now gives him the chance to settle in a system designed for developing young attackers. If he finds rhythm in the Bundesliga, this move could finally unlock the potential many saw when Wolves paid €40m for him.”
He added: “The hamstring injury is a setback, but Dortmund are wise to be patient. The real measure will be how he performs once he gets a run of games.”
Key Insights
- Fabio Silva says Wolves refused to let him leave permanently before 2025.
- Joined Borussia Dortmund on deadline day after a €40m Wolves move in 2020.
- Loan spells at Anderlecht, PSV, Rangers and Las Palmas defined his time in England.
- Has yet to debut for Dortmund due to a hamstring injury.
- Could finally feature against Mainz this weekend.
What’s Next for Fabio Silva?
The striker’s focus is on proving himself in Germany after five years of uncertainty at Wolves. Dortmund fans hope he will soon make his debut and show why he was once considered one of Europe’s top young forwards.
For Wolves, the saga is over, though questions remain about whether they should have cut ties earlier, when his value was higher.
👉 Can Fabio Silva finally find stability and fulfil his potential at Borussia Dortmund after years of frustration at Wolves?
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