Swansea sign Burnley defender Delcroix on loan

Hannes Delcroix made 12 Premier League appearances for Burnley last season

Swansea City have completed the loan signing of Burnley centre-back Hannes Delcroix.

The one-cap Belgium international arrived in Wales on Thursday and is available for Saturday's trip to Norwich City.

"We're delighted to have an additional option in defence with Hannes joining us," said Swans boss Williams.

"His versatility and experience will be invaluable to us. He has played in the top-flight and at international level, and we're hopeful he will make an immediate impact on our squad."

Delcroix, 25, provides Swansea head coach Luke Williams with a welcome option at the heart of the defence for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

He made 15 appearances for Burnley as they were relegated from the Premier League in 2023-24, but is yet to play this season thanks in part to injury.

After returning to fitness, he was on the bench for Burnley's FA Cup win at Reading earlier this month.

Delcroix, who can also play at left-back, signed a three-year deal at Burnley after joining from Anderlecht in 2023.

The move saw him reunite with then Clarets boss Vincent Kompany, who he had played for at the Belgian club.

Born in Haiti and raised in Belgium, he came through the ranks at Anderlecht and represented his country at various age grades before making his solitary senior appearance for the Red Devils under Roberto Martinez in 2020.

He will provide competition for Ben Cabango and Harry Darling at Swansea, and may go straight into Williams' side at Norwich City this Saturday with Darling facing a three-match ban following his sending off against Sheffield United in midweek.

Swansea appealed against Darling's dismissal, for a challenge on Rhian Brewster, but the red card was not overturned, meaning the central defender will miss the matches against Norwich, Coventry City and Bristol City.

Delcroix's arrival will boost a Swansea squad which has lacked depth in various positions throughout the season.

Nelson Abbey provided central defensive back-up in the first half of the campaign, but his loan spell from Olympiakos was cut short at the start of January after the former Reading player managed only one Swansea appearance.

Speaking about the club's attempts to strengthen before the Norwich game, Williams said: "For me the thing that is most important is that we need players of the level.

"We need solid Championship players, otherwise we have a false sense of security.

"Yes we need players, and we need proper players. We have got to get the deals done, the ones we are chasing down, and I am sure we will."

As well as a defender, Williams has been keen to add an attacking midfielder and a wide player to his squad before the window closes on 3 February.

Williams had been due to fly to The Netherlands to watch a defender last weekend, but the trip did not happen because the player did not feature.

Another scouting trip to the continent planned for this week was also abandoned because the chances of sealing a deal for the player Williams was due to watch had faded.