Rochdale youngster Luke Matheson has completed a deadline day move to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 17-year-old joins for a fee thought to be around £1m, but will return to Dale on loan for the rest of the season.
Matheson, who hails from the town but now lives in Fallowfield, made his first-team debut for Rochdale aged 15, and scored a memorable first goal for the club last September – an equaliser in the Carabao Cup against United at Old Trafford.
Speaking to the club’s official website, chief executive David Bottomley said: “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.
“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.”
Luke is currently studying for A-levels at Trinity C of E College in Hulme and revealed he went into class to sit an exam after his Old Trafford exploits.
Matheson, who is already an England under-18n international, had been a reported target for both United and City in the past however high-flying Wanderers moved quickly on transfer deadline day to secure his services.
He was pictured posing in a Wolves shirt at Molineux today as he sealed the deal.
However he will be available for selection in a what is huge boost for Dale boss Brian Barry-Murphy, who sees his side welcome Shrewsbury Town to the Crown Oil Arena in League One on Saturday.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: “Luke is going back to Rochdale. He is going to finish the season there. He is a young boy. He has already done good things for his age, so he is going back to Rochdale again.
“He will join us in the summer. For his age he has scored at a tough stadium to do so, and we expect good things.”
