Boreham Wood Football Club is absolutely delighted to announce today that we have reached agreement to sell our very talented Academy captain Ben Goodliffe to Championship giants Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The agreement has been very patiently put together by Wood Chairman Danny Hunter, the Wolves Sporting Director Kevin Thelwell, and Wolves Club Secretary Matt Wild over the last four weeks. The deal was completed and signed on the proviso that Ben would be allowed to finish his education and season at Boreham Wood and he will now join up with the Championship giants in early May.
The terms of the deal are simple, a transfer fee, add ons and a sell on that were agreeable to both clubs and all points and clauses have already been agreed. The player has already agreed his personal terms, passed his medical and has looked at Wolves impressive training facilities and very impressive stadium. Ben has also looked at possible living arrangements and signed a twenty-six month contract with another one year option attached.
Boreham Wood Chairman Danny Hunter commented on the transfer and said, “What an accolade for this football club, for our academy, for our infrastructure and for our talented academy captain. When a club the size of Wolves come calling, you do not stand in a young player’s way, you simply find the correct way to give all parties what they want and that’s what I’ve tried to do throughout.
“In this case I’m simply thrilled for Ben and very content that Wolves have got themselves a very, very good young prospect. He’s a young player who, with a bit of luck, can progress at that great football club and make his way in the world as a professional footballer. It’s very important when you are dealing with a young man’s future, to understand that you cannot rush to make a wrong decision. In this case we turned down four clubs and two better offers financially to do a deal that I felt was best for the player and to put him with the right people at the right club.
“We mustn’t forget Ben is just 17 years old, there are only 20 clubs in the whole country who can boast that they are a Category 1 Academy and Wolves are one of them. Plus I also have great faith in their Sporting Director Kevin Thelwell, who has an impressive record of bringing young talent through their Academy into their first team. Finally I found it incredibly helpful that the Wolves Club Secretary, Matt Wild, was able to work with both myself and Kevin to find a deal and financial package that worked for Ben and for all parties.
Wood First Team Manager Luke Garrard said “This is a great opportunity for Ben, who has developed beautifully over the years with our Academy. Ben always showed the right attitude, discipline and desire throughout and excelled in our last pre season with the first team. He has been an ever present in our first team squads ever since and made the jump into the first team effortlessly at just 17 years of age. Ben has all the qualities that a new age centre half requires in the modern game. But his biggest attribute is the fact he loves to defend and at 6ft 3”, he is very commanding in the air and has an awareness to assess danger when going about his defensive duties.
“I also need to thank our U/18s and U/19’s Academy Manager Cameron Mawer, who over the last 18 months has worked tremendously hard to progress not only Ben, but a host of young players to the verge of our first team squad. Cameron has played a huge part in Ben’s development and can be extremely proud that another member of our Academy has progressed into the professional ranks. For a player from Boreham Wood’s Academy to go to a big Championship club like Wolves, with its fantastic history, state of the art training facility and structure is an honour for us and an opportunity for Ben to really progress himself. Ben knows that the hard work is only just beginning and this is hopefully the first steps to where he wants to go.”
Soon to be a Wolves player Ben Goodliffe said “It has been an incredible few months and season to be honest where I have not only captained England Colleges but made the squad and then my debut for Boreham Wood Football Club. It’s great that my performances have recently been recognised by so many clubs but to have a club, with as big a history as Wolverhampton Wanderers see my potential, meant I didn’t want to go anywhere else or have to think twice about signing.
“I am so grateful to everyone at Wolves that they are giving me this opportunity to become a professional footballer. This allows me to concentrate 100% on being the best footballer that I can be and, although I still have a lot of aspects of my game to improve, I aim to make the most of the opportunity I’m being given and I can’t wait to get started.
“Finally I would like to thank the manager, coaches, players, staff and the supporters at Boreham Wood FC. You’ve all helped me to get this far, and a special thanks to Luke Garrard and Cameron Mawer, as they’ve both played such a big part in developing me as a person, as well as a player., Lastly, I would like to say a massive thank you to the Chairman Danny Hunter for allowing it all to happen and I’ll always be extremely grateful for all the help and guidance he gave me.
Wolves Sporting Director Kelvin Thelwell said “Ben is a defender who is still very young but has been playing at a good standard in the National League with Boreham Wood. We are always on the lookout to improve the quality of our groups and he has been on our radar for a while. He has been doing very well and we are delighted to secure him under some competition from other clubs.
“Ben will come to us next pre-season as part of the Under-23 squad, where he will have the same experience as all the other young players in terms of having the chance to impress and opportunities to train with the first team. Like any of our young players, that is the aim, to help them improve and develop and one day make it into the first team squad.
“Boreham Wood have been great to deal with and their Chairman Danny Hunter has been really positive and supportive during our talks. It has all gone very smoothly and I think it is a very good deal for all parties”.
