Young striker Leon Chiwome has joined League Two side Colchester United on loan for the 2026/27 season.
The England under-18 international joined the club’s academy system four years ago, signing from AFC Wimbledon, and enjoyed a quick rise into the first-team early in his Wolves career.
Chiwome’s senior Old Gold debut came as a substitute in an FA Cup quarter-final against Coventry City at Molineux in the spring of 2024, while Premier League appearances followed against Aston Villa, Burnley and West Ham United.
The 20-year-old’s two seasons since have been blighted by a serious knee injury, but he joined Cesar Peixoto’s squad for pre-season in Portugal this summer and featured in the club’s early pre-season friendlies.
Technical director Matt Jackson said: “We’re really pleased for Leon. It’s a similar situation to Sasa going to Austria – it’s about getting back to his best fitness, as well as performance levels. He’s had a tough couple of years but he’s a great professional and a really good person, and he deserves far more luck than the game’s giving him at the moment.
“When our recruitment team spotted him at Wimbledon, we were really excited, he has power and pace, and that build for an English centre forward isn’t easy to find, so we have to nurture it. He has developed up to now, even with the horrible injury, so back to his best he could be a real asset to the club.
“He’s always been level-headed and well educated. He’s a well brought up young man. Even with his injuries, we’ve never had downtime from him, he’s always been super motivated and that will continue now.
“We’ve got real belief in Colchester and their project, and the experience of the Cowley brothers for the next stage of his development. They have a great history recently of young loan development, and if he has great game exposure, he can get back to where we knew he was going a couple of years ago.”
Colchester kick off their campaign against Southampton in the Carabao Cup next weekend, and all at Wolves wish Leon the best of luck next season.
