Wanderers have have struck a deal with Wolves to sign promising young defender Mark Connolly.

The club agreed terms with the Republic of Ireland youth team skipper on transfer deadline day but were forced to negotiate a fee believed to be around £1million to avoid going to tribunal.

Monaghan-born Connolly can play at full-back or centre-half and, having worked his way through the Irish ranks, now boasts 11 caps at Under-17 level.

The youngster, who turns 18 in December, was highly rated at Wolves and played under the tutelage of Wanderers’ assistant manager Chris Evans when he was in charge of the Molineux academy.