Matt Grimes: Captain signs new Swansea City contract

Matt Grimes made his Swansea City debut against Hull City in the Premier League in April 2015

Swansea City midfielder Matt Grimes has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract which commits him to the club until 2025.

Grimes was in the final year of his previous deal and was the subject of interest from Fulham in the summer.

Grimes, 26, has been an ever present this season under Russell Martin, who admits he expected to lose his captain.

"I thought he was going to go in the summer, I think we all did," said Swansea head coach Martin.

"We sat there at 10am on deadline day and I thought he was going. He didn't which is testament to the owners, because they didn't get the finance they thought Matthew was worth.

"I think he had resigned himself to going at some point, reluctantly, whether it was January or the end of the season.

"Then he came and approached me a few weeks ago and said he would really like to stay if there was an opportunity to get a final offer from the club.

"Mark [Allen, Swansea's sporting director] has worked hard on it, finding a happy medium with the owners. It's important to add he could have got a lot more money elsewhere.

"In terms of football, he feels we can build something he really wants to be part of. For us it's massive. It's a big moment."

Grimes was the subject of more than one bid from Fulham, but the London club would not meet Swansea's valuation of the player.

He says he is "really happy" to recommit to Swansea, the club he joined from Exeter in 2015.

"I am buzzing, it is a fantastic project here and everyone knows how much I love the club," Grimes added.

"The way in which we are playing has been massive. From the moment the new manager came in I knew I would take to his style straight away and I am enjoying my football now, probably more so than I have any other year."

Head coach Martin, who succeeded Steve Cooper as boss in August, hailed Grimes' new deal as an "incredible signing for the football club".

Grimes has made 175 appearances for Swansea and has had loan spells at Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Northampton Town.

The former England Under-21 international was named club captain ahead of the 2019-20 season and has been a mainstay of the Swansea side since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2018.