Swansea City

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Cyrus Christie has said he is "grateful for the journey" after saying farewell to Swansea City for a second time.

Versatile defender Christie is leaving Swansea on a free transfer having joined the club on deal until the end of the season last November.

The 32-year-old made 12 appearances – including three starts – in his second spell as a Swan having been behind the likes of Josh Key and Josh Tymon in the pecking order.

Christie was signed as a free agent to provide cover across the back four and, while he is happiest at full-back, filled in at centre-back at times.

Swansea boss Alan Sheehan confirmed after the draw with Oxford on the final day of the season that Christie would be among the players departing this summer.

Writing on social media,, external Republic of Ireland international Christie said: "Thank you to everyone at Swansea City – team-mates, staff and fans – for the memories, support and experiences that I'll always carry with me.

"Wishing the club nothing but success moving forward."

Christie was a more influential figure in his first stint at Swansea, when he scored three times in 23 appearances under Russell Martin after joining on loan from Fulham in January 2022.

He spent the next two seasons at Hull City having also played for Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough, Derby County and Coventry City.

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Swansea City defender Josh Key's 30-yard stunner against Plymouth Argyle has earned him a nomination for the EFL's Championship Goal of the Month award.

The 25-year-old full-back sealed a 3-0 win for the Swans on 9 April with his spectacular lob over the goalkeeper from distance.

"It had been 364 days since Key's last goal, so expectations were low as he strode forward," said the Football League in its nominations list.

"The full-back had other ideas, striking his controlled 25-yard (or further) shot at pace and in a perfect arc."

Key, who joined Swansea from Exeter City in 2023, is one of four nominees for the April award, along with Coventry City's former Swans midfielder Jamie Paterson, Sunderland's Eliezer Mayenda and Oxford United's Cameron Brannagan, who is nominated for his stunner against Cardiff City on 21 April.

Fans can vote for their favourite on the EFL's website, with the winner announced on 16 May.

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Swansea City's Harry Darling has been nominated for April's Championship Player of the Month award.

The Swans won all five matches in which the centre-back started last month, with Darling netting against both Plymouth Argyle and Queens Park Rangers.

The English Football League wrote: "Darling contributed at both ends of the pitch as Swansea won all five of the April games in which he played.

"Commanding in the air and poised on the ground, he helped preserve four clean sheets while scoring two decisive goals at set pieces."

Darling is up against Millwall striker Mihailo Ivanovic, Leeds United winger Manor Solomon and Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill for the award.

The 25-year-old's Swansea contract expires this summer, although newly-appointed head coach Alan Sheehan is eager to keep the defender in south Wales.

Darling has made 112 appearances in all competitions since joining the Swans from MK Dons in the summer of 2022, scoring 12 goals.

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Hector Kyprianou is on the lookout for a new club this summer having featured on Swansea City's list of targets in the last transfer window.

Peterborough United have announced that Kyprianou, their captain in 2024-25, will leave the League One club on a free when his contract expires next month.

The 23-year-old Cyprus international played 42 games for Peterborough in the season which has just finished, scoring five goals.

One of those strikes came at Wembley in April as Posh, who finished 18th in the third tier, shocked Birmingham City to win the EFL Trophy for a second straight year.

In all, Kyprianou made 140 appearances for Peterborough, scoring 16 goals, after joining from Leyton Orient in 2022.

Winger Kwame Poku, another player who has previously been linked with Swansea, is also leaving London Road, though he is expected to attract interest from a number of clubs.

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Alan Sheehan says the door will always be open for Joe Allen at Swansea City.

Allen is coming to terms with life outside football having announced his retirement last week at the age of 35.

The Wales great has said he has no idea what the future will hold after calling time on a senior playing career which began when he was aged 16 in 2007.

Allen briefly stepped up to help out with coaching at Swansea when he was injured earlier this spring.

Sheehan, who was appointed Swansea's head coach on a three-year deal last week, says it will be down to Allen to decide what comes next.

"I think Joe's in a position where right now, after such a long period of devoting your life to the game, I think probably he'll feel he just wants to step away and cool off for a bit," Sheehan said.

"[He will want to] chill out, spend time with the family and then be in a position to make that decision [on future plans].

"Whatever he wants to do, the door of Swansea City is always open for him."

Allen made his final appearance as a professional in last weekend's 3-3 draw with Oxford United.

The Pembrokeshire-born midfielder racked up almost 600 club appearances and 77 Wales caps during his distinguished career.

While Allen's family home is in south Wales, fellow Swansea veteran Kyle Naughton is thought likely to return to his native Yorkshire having announced his exit after more than a decade at the club.

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Lewis O'Brien has said thanks to Swansea City as the Championship club wait to see whether they have any chance of re-signing the midfielder next season.

O'Brien became a key figure after joining Swansea on loan during the mid-season window, making 16 appearances as the Welsh side pulled clear of relegation danger to finish 11th in the table.

Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea "would love" to bring O'Brien back for a second spell, but the 26-year-old's next move is in Forest's hands.

While O'Brien is unlikely to force his way back into the Premier League club's plans, there is considerable work to do if Swansea are to get their man.

Forest may well want a fee for O'Brien this summer, whether he departs on another loan or a permanent basis.

If Swansea can agree a deal with Forest, the former Huddersfield player's salary demands would be a significant hurdle to clear.

For his part, O'Brien said last month he would be open to the idea of rejoining the Swans.

And after his loan spell came to an end last weekend, O'Brien has said "a massive thank you to everyone at Swansea City" on social media., external

"It's been a privilege to wear the shirt and be part of this club," he added.

"I've learned a lot during my time here and will always be grateful for the experience. Once a Jack, always a Jack."

Burnley defender Hannes Delcroix has also posted on social media after his loan stint at Swansea came to an end.

"Thank you Swansea, you were great!" he said.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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For the third year in a row, Swansea City's players will head off on holiday with spirits lifted by a springtime upturn in form.

The challenge facing the club's new-look group of decision-makers is to find a way of ensuring that in the next campaign, there is no need for a late-season improvement to lighten the mood.

Swansea wobbled for a long time in 2022-23 before a sparkling run in what proved to be the final weeks of Russell Martin's reign.

Last season, there were struggles under Michael Duff and a difficult period for Luke Williams prior to an improvement from late February which ensured relegation was avoided with something to spare.

The pattern proved similar in 2024-25, with Swansea losing their way – albeit having shown promising signs for a while – under Williams and then finding momentum in the last three months under Alan Sheehan.

Can Swansea hope for better in 2025-26? Could Sheehan find a way of building a team who are at least in contention for a play-off place in 12 months' time?

In the fearsome scrap that is the Championship, nothing will come easy, particularly for a club whose budget is inferior to those of numerous others at their level.

Sheehan said this week that Swansea will have to get many big decisions right if they are to become Premier League contenders again any time soon.

The calls are being made already. Harry Darling has been offered an improved contract, but it remains to be seen whether he will be tempted by potentially more lucrative deals available elsewhere.

Swansea have indicated that they will try to get Lewis O'Brien back next season but, given his sizeable contract and the fact there will surely be a few suitors for the Nottingham Forest player, can the Welsh club really compete for his signature?

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Then comes recruitment. There are vacancies to fill with Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton, Jon Mclaughlin, Cyrus Christie and Kristian Pedersen gone along with loan signings Myles Peart-Harris and Hannes Delcroix.

There are players out on loan who, as things stand, will be back at Swansea for pre-season, among them strikers Jerry Yates and Mykola Kuharevich and goalkeeper Andy Fisher.

Will any of those be given another chance to impress?

Even if some coming back are welcomed into the fold, a Swansea squad which has looked light in certain areas throughout this season must be strengthened.

Melker Widell is on the way, while Zeidane Inoussa looks likely to follow and Bobby Wales may also arrive.

But many more new faces are required.

So while Ben Cabango and Co head for the beach, there is plenty of work for Sheehan, director of football Richard Montague, chief executive Tom Gorringe and Swansea's owners to do to give the club a realistic chance of achieving anything significant next season.

Not for the first time in recent memory, it promises to be an interesting summer.

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Joe Allen is in contention to start for Swansea City against Oxford United on Saturday (12:30 BST) as the Wales great bids farewell to professional football.

Allen has announced that the Oxford game will be his last before he hangs up his boots after 18 years playing senior football.

The 35-year-old will retire having made almost 600 club appearances and won 77 Wales caps.

Another Swansea veteran, Kyle Naughton, will also be saying goodbye this weekend after more than a decade at the club.

Harry Darling – who has been offered a new deal – Cyrus Christie, Jon McLaughlin and Kristian Pedersen are also due to become free agents this summer, while Lewis O'Brien and Hannes Delcroix are coming to the end of loan spells.

Swansea could secure a top-10 finish should they beat Oxford, who are 17th in the table, and West Bromwich Albion fail to beat Luton Town.

The Swans are chasing a fourth successive home win in what is their first game since Alan Sheehan was appointed head coach on a permanent basis, and the Irishman is keen to end an undulating season on a high.

"The lads are in a really good place," Sheehan said.

"It's two teams who are safe. Yes we want it to be a party atmosphere, but we want to build a winning culture at the football club."

Swansea City and Oxford United are set to enjoy their final game of the season with nothing on the line - bar pride, of course.

The two will meet in Wales on Saturday (12:30 BST), with Swansea six points under the play-offs and Oxford no longer in relegation threat.

The U's secured safety last time out with a 2-0 victory over fourth placed Sunderland.

They go into this game knowing their goal has been achieved but the job is not done for either side, who will want to end their campaign with a bang.

• Swansea City are unbeaten across their last four league games against Oxford United, winning each of their last three in succession (D1).

• Oxford United have failed to win any of their last four away league games against Swansea City (D2 L2), since a 2-1 victory in November 2000.

• When playing at home on the final day of a league campaign, Swansea have lost three of their last four games (W1), including a 1-0 defeat to Millwall last season.

• After winning their last match 2-0 against Sunderland, Oxford will be looking to win successive league games for the first time since January.

• Since Alan Sheehan's first Championship game in charge of Swansea City, only Burnley (29), Leeds (25) and Millwall (24) have won more points than the Swans (P12 W7 D2 L3).

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Swansea City are interested in a summer deal for Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales.

The 19-year-old is out of contract at the Scottish Premiership club at the end of the season and is being tipped to move to the Swansea.com Stadium.

Kilmarnock could receive around £300,000 in compensation for Wales.

An under-19 intertional, Wales has been tipped to make the step up to Scotland's senior squad thanks to his form with Kilmarnock.

Wales has scored five goals in 41 senior appearances – 18 of which have been starts – having come through the ranks at Kilmarnock.

He also netted 12 goals in 24 games during a loan spell at Alloa.

In March, Killie boss Derek McInness said he would be "devastated" should Wales leave Rugby Park.

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Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea City want to bring Lewis O'Brien back to the club next season – but concedes the midfielder's next move will be down to Nottingham Forest.

O'Brien has excelled in Swansea colours since arriving on loan at the back-end of the mid-season transfer window.

The 26-year-old said last month he would be open to the idea of returning to Swansea in 2025-26.

However, he remains under contract at the City Ground next season and the cost of any deal to bring him back to Wales is likely to be significant.

"We do know Lewis has loved his time here and we have loved having him here," Montague said.

"We'd love to have him back but he's under contract with Nottingham Forest and it's largely up to them what they choose to do.

"It's something we'd really be open to and we'd love to explore further, but ultimately when he's contracted to another club, it's not us in the driving seat."

O'Brien joined Forest from Huddersfield Town in 2022 following the Nottingham club's promotion to the Premier League.

But he has played only 17 times for Forest, and spent time on loan at DC United, Middlesbrough and Los Angeles FC before moving to Swansea after they sold Matt Grimes to Coventry City.

O'Brien has scored once in 15 appearances for the Swans, with his energy and dynamism in midfield key in the club's impressive form under Alan Sheehan.

"He is going to have an awful lot of suitors because he has played so well," Montague added.