In the end, they could not hold on. Wolverhampton ultimately tasted the bitterness of relegation, and Hwang Hee-chan's future was swept up in a fierce whirlpool.
Wolverhampton Wanderers failed to survive in the English Premier League and their relegation to the English Football League Championship for next season was confirmed. Once established as a stable midtable team, they ultimately could not stop the decline that continued over recent seasons.
Wolverhampton returned to the Premier League after winning the Championship in the 2017-18 season and had consistently managed to stay up. However, they began to falter from the 2022-2023 season, repeated crises, and ultimately could not avoid relegation this season. Amid early-season struggles they even made the bold move of changing the manager, but a rebound did not materialize.
With relegation confirmed, internal changes at the club became unavoidable. Football League World said, "Both Wolverhampton and Burnley had poor seasons and were relegated from the Premier League," and noted, "Wolverhampton has experienced a downward trend for years, and club operations and transfer market decisions had an impact." It added, "Because of relegation, players' wages are expected to be cut by up to 50%."
In this process, Hwang Hee-chan's name was also at the center. In the club's high earners list released by the same outlet, Hwang Hee-chan ranked fifth after João Gomes, Toti Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Tolu Arokodare. His weekly wage was reported to be around 70,000 pounds (140 million won).
Compared with last season, the atmosphere changed dramatically. In the 2023-24 season Hwang Hee-chan starred with 12 goals and 3 assists in 29 Premier League appearances. But this season, hampered by injuries and a drop in form, he managed only 2 goals and 1 assist in 23 appearances.
Evaluations were also harsh. Football365 selected the worst player for each Premier League club and pointed to Hwang Hee-chan for Wolverhampton. The outlet explained, "The whole of Wolverhampton was close to 'beyond saving,' so you cannot place all the blame on Hwang Hee-chan," but the fact his name was included is, in the end, evidence of poor form.
The possibility of a transfer is also becoming more realistic. Football League World reported, "With Wolverhampton's relegation, key players are expected to leave the team in large numbers," and said, "Hwang Hee-chan is also likely to be included among transfer targets." It added, "Wolverhampton will seek to secure finances through player sales."
In fact, changes are expected within the club. According to Sky Sports, manager Rob Edwards acknowledged the possibility of player departures after relegation. He said, "Our team has many players with outstanding individual ability. There will be interest from multiple clubs, and I know some players will leave. If they leave, it must be the right decision not only for the individual player but also for the club."
Ultimately, Wolverhampton's relegation is not merely a drop in results. Team restructuring and a reorganization of the squad are unavoidable. All eyes are on what choice Hwang Hee-chan, at the center of this, will make and where his next destination will be.
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