Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan has been excluded from the club’s first-team squad and sent to train with the Under-21 team ahead of the 2026-27 EFL Championship season, according to reports by the British outlet Express & Star. The decision sidelines the South Korean international from the club’s opening matchday squad, signaling a sharp decline in his standing at Molineux following the team’s relegation from the Premier League.
Wolverhampton Squad Status and Championship Opener
According to the Express & Star, Hwang’s demotion to the youth setup illustrates his current position under the club’s management as Wolverhampton prepares for life in the second tier. Wolverhampton finished at the bottom of the Premier League table last season, during which Hwang struggled to secure consistent form or output. Club leadership has opted not to factor the forward into their immediate promotion plans for the Championship campaign.
Consequently, Hwang was entirely omitted from the matchday roster for Wolverhampton’s opening league fixture against Blackburn Rovers on August 15, 2026, at Molineux Stadium. While the senior squad managed a dramatic 2-2 draw, Hwang watched from outside the selection.
Match Recap and Late-Game Heroics
Wolverhampton opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Marshal Munetsi, but Blackburn responded swiftly. Sean McLaughlin equalized in the 27th minute before Andri Guðjohnsen struck in the 3rd minute of the second half to give Blackburn a 2-1 lead.
Facing a season-opening defeat, Wolverhampton salvaged a point deep into stoppage time when Raúl Jiménez scored a dramatic equalizer. According to ESPN, the returning forward secured the 2-2 draw in the game’s dying moments to rescue a point for the hosts in their first fixture back in the Championship.