Conor Gallagher: Swansea City sign Chelsea midfielder on loan
- Published
Conor Gallagher has joined Swansea after facing Steve Cooper's side twice this season during his loan spell at Charlton
Swansea City have signed Conor Gallagher on loan for the rest of the season after Chelsea recalled the midfielder from Charlton Athletic.
Gallagher, 19, scored six goals in 26 appearances for Charlton after joining on a year-long loan deal last August.
But the England Under-21 international has moved to Swansea after Chelsea halted his spell at the Valley.
"I want to help Swansea get in the play-offs because I definitely think we are capable of doing that," he said.
"With this squad, if we get a good run of games, we could even get automatic promotion because I don't think you want to be ruling anything out."
Conor Gallagher has played for England at five age group levels from under-17 to under-21
Gallagher was part of the England Under-17 side which won the World Cup under Swansea head coach Steve Cooper.
Promotion hopefuls Swansea have already signed two of Gallagher's Under-17 World Cup-winning team-mates this month in Rhian Brewster and Marc Guehi.
Striker Brewster has signed on loan from Liverpool for the rest of the season, while Chelsea defender Guehi has joined on a loan deal which could run until the summer of 2021.
Gallagher has been linked with a number of clubs but the Cooper connection has again paid dividends for Swansea.
"I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a contribution to the team," Gallagher told Swansea's club website.
"I have gained a lot of experience from my time with Charlton, I have played almost every minute in the Championship.
"My whole time there was great, and this is a new challenge to get excited about.
"I think there is a bit of expectation because I have scored a few goals, and I like that bit of pressure and I am looking forward to showing what I can do.
"I am a box-to-box midfielder, I am hard-working, I like to think I am good technically and able to score and assist, but defend too."
Swansea had not expected to do much business in the January transfer window for financial reasons.
But the loss of striker Sam Surridge - who was recalled by Bournemouth at the start of the month - prompted a change of plan at the Championship club.
Second-choice goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt has left Swansea for Turkish side Genclerbirligi, and it could be that more fringe players move on this month.
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