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#BobbyWales

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New faces impress as Swans finish Spain camp on a high with friendly win

In what would be a first look at Alan Sheehan’s side in front of the cameras, the two matches would be a good run-out for Swansea’s new coaching team.

In scorching temperatures as high as 35 degrees, Sheehan would be pleased with some promising glimpses of his five new summer arrivals at his disposal ahead of the new EFL Championship campaign, which starts at the Riverside Stadium against Middlesbrough in three weeks time.

A large majority of the Swans first-team squad would get a run out, but captain Ben Cabango and full back Josh Key, although present, would not see minutes.

The first 60 would see the Swans held 2-2, with Sheehan’s side taking the lead from an own goal after a neat build-up seeing Josh Tymon’s teasing cross inexplicably diverted into the net by a triallist in the Stevenage goal.

The Swans would double the lead after the break as new striker Bobby Wales would pounce on another excellent Tymon delivery to show off his predatory instincts in front of goal.

New signing Melker Widell would dictate play in the midfield, as fellow Swede Zeidane Inoussa would also show encouraging early signs, combining well with Tymon on the left-hand side as Sheehan’s side threatened to add to the scoreline with a fluid attacking performance.

However, there would be no more goals for the Swans, and as they looked set to see out the final proceedings, Stevenage would peg back a goal before the final whistle. Dan Sweeney’s looping header eluding Lawrence Vigouroux in the Swansea goal, creeping under the crossbar and into the net.

Stevenage would then find a leveller late on, another trialist managing to beat the offside trap as tiredness kicked in, before firing home into the far corner.

The second game would see the Swans come away with a 1-0 victory as more valuable minutes would be handed to the squad which included a first sight of new duo Ricardo Santos and Ethan Galbraith.

It would be a more familiar face that settled proceedings as forward Zan Vipotnik netted the only goal of the game, running onto a brilliant through-ball from deep inside the Swans half on the right-hand side before steadying himself to produce a clinical finish.

The Swans will now head back to the UK to the EV Charger Points Stadium to continue their preparations for the new season with a friendly against League Two Cheltenham Town on Wednesday night.

Swansea City XI for Game 1:

Vigouroux, S.Parker, Fulton, Burgess, Tymon; A.Parker (Cotterill), Cooper, Widell, Congreve, Wales, Inoussa

Swansea City XI for Game 2:

Fisher, Santos, McKenzie, Dabrowski, Cotterill, Franco, Galbraith, Bianchini, Cullen, Ronald, Vipotnik

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]

Swans set to sign striker Wales

The 19-year-old will sign a four-year contract with the Swans at the end of his current deal on June 1 and becomes the third confirmed summer arrival in South Wales, with Sweden Under-21 internationals Melker Widell and Zeidane Inoussa already set to link up with Alan Sheehan’s squad ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

A Scotland Under-19 international, Wales has been tipped for senior honours on the back of his breakthrough season at Kilmarnock where he scored five goals in 33 games this season for the side who will finish ninth in the Scottish top flight.

He has 69 appearances to his name for Kilmarnock and Alloa, scoring 17 goals, and his form during the 2024-25 season saw him nominated for the Scottish Football Writers’ Association young player of the year award.

He also recently won Kilmarnock’s young player of the year prize.

Swansea City head coach Alan Sheehan said:

“It is very pleasing to bring another talented attacking player into our squad.

“Bobby is a young player, but has experience in the senior game with Kilmarnock and Alloa and provides us with further competition in the final third of the pitch. 

“We look forward to working with him, developing him further in his all-round game, and hopefully helping him fulfil his potential.”

Director of football Richard Montague, added:

“Bobby is a talented young player, and one who boasts plenty of experience of senior football.

“We believe he has the potential to develop into an important player for Swansea City, and the personal accolades he has received in recent years underline how highly thought of he is.

“We look forward to welcoming him to Swansea at the start of pre-season, and are very happy to have been able to move decisively to secure another acquisition so far in advance of the new campaign.”

Adam Worth, Swansea City’s global head of analytics and recruitment, said:

“Bobby is a player we have identified as possessing attributes that can be an asset to the team as we move forward.

“His work-rate and ability to offer a focal point in the final third will provide Alan Sheehan with further competition in attacking areas, and his age means we are confident he will continue to improve as he adapts to life in the Championship.

“He is a bright young talent, and one we are very happy to be bringing to Swansea City for this next stage of his career.”

[Lead image: Jeff Holmes JSHPIX]

Discussions ongoing with Darling as Swans departure list released, whilst Wales deal expected

The 25-year-old former MK Dons centre back, whose current deal expires this summer, is a transfer target for several other clubs, with newly-promoted Wrexham and Birmingham City heavily linked in the last week.

Darling has impressed this season for the Swans, forming a rock-solid partnership with club captain Ben Cabango that kept 14 clean sheets this season, and would be a major loss to head coach Alan Sheehan’s rebuilding plans.

In a statement confirming their retained list for next season, the Swans have also confirmed the departure of several first-team and development players.

Experienced veterans Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton confirmed their departures prior to the final game of the season’s 3-3 draw against Oxford United, whilst Cyrus Christie, Kristian Pedersen, and Jon McLaughlin were confirmed departures in Sheehan’s post-match press conference when their contracts expire this summer.

Youngsters Maliq Cadogan, Richard Faakye, Sammy Henia-Kamau, Ben Hughes, Aidan Higgins, Kiel Higginson, Sam Seager, and Osian Williams will all leave the Swans this summer.

On-loan trio Lewis O’Brien, Hannes Delcroix and Myles Peart-Harris have all returned to their parent clubs following the conclusion of their respective loan spells. The Swans have shown interest in O’Brien, but with significant competition, it looks highly likely the Nottingham Forest midfielder will not be returning to South Wales next season.

One player likely to be on the way to SA1 is Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales, with the 19-year-old understood to be signing on expiry of his contract at Rugby Park.

The Swans, however, will have to pay compensation for the highly-regarded Scotland under-19 international who will play his final game for the club he joined at academy level this weekend against Hearts in the Scottish Premier League.

Earlier this month Wales was named Kilmarnock’s Young Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season and is likely to become Swansea’s third signing of the window following deals for Swedish duo Zeidane Inoussa and Melker Widell.

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]