Sam Johnstone

Key strength: Shot-stopping

Shot-stopper

Anchored at the very bottom of the Premier League table, Wolverhampton Wanderers face an existential battle for top-flight survival, and between the posts stands their 32-year-old English guardian, Sam Johnstone. Signed from Crystal Palace on deadline day in August 2024 for a €6 million fee, the 1.93m shot-stopper has shouldered a monumental burden, racking up 13 appearances and 1,170 minutes in a season where points have been cruelly elusive. Johnstone's reputation as a reflex specialist and commanding aerial presence is being tested to the limit in a Wolves side languishing in 20th position. With zero disciplinary blemishes to his name, he has maintained remarkable composure amid the chaos, rotating with José Sá as manager Gary O'Neil searches for solutions. His defensive instincts—anchoring a backline featuring defenders like Ladislav Krejci and Jackson Tchatchoua—remain sharp, but the harsh reality is that no goalkeeper can single-handedly save a club hemorrhaging points. Contracted until 2028, Johnstone represents both immediate desperation and long-term planning. As Wolves stare down the barrel of relegation, every save he makes carries the weight of a potential great escape.