Swansea City

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The sight of Josh Sheehan leading Wales out to face Gibraltar on Thursday will prompt smiles at Swansea City’s academy.

Sheehan, after all, learned his trade at Swansea, coming through the ranks after joining the club as a 10-year-old.

He was always highly regarded, with many comparing the Pembrey-born midfielder to another Swansea product, Joe Allen.

After loan spells with Yeovil Town and Newport County, Sheehan left Swansea to join the Exiles on a permanent basis in January 2018, moving on to current club Bolton Wanderers in 2021.

He made only one first-team appearance for the Swans, in a League Cup win over Rotherham in 2014, though there may have been many more had they not been a Premier League club throughout his time with the senior squad.

Even though he has carved out a career elsewhere, Sheehan is regarded as a success story for Swansea’s academy given that he has played more than 300 senior games.

And he is one of many players who have gone on to win senior Wales caps having come through the age groups at Swansea in the last couple of decades.

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Since moving to what is now the Swansea.com Stadium in 2005, Swansea have brought through the likes of Allen, Shaun MacDonald and Ollie Cooper in midfield, plus the versatile Jazz Richards.

There have been quality defenders, too, in Ben Davies, Joe Rodon, Connor Roberts and Ben Cabango, plus attacking players like Daniel James and Liam Cullen.

And there are others who have made it to the Wales team without ever playing for Swansea, like Emyr Huws – who left the club for Manchester City as a teenager – and Ryan Hedges.

Who might come next on what is a well-trodden path?

The likes of Sam Parker, Ben Lloyd and Joel Cotterill all have a chance.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Jamal Lowe is officially a free agent after being released by a Premier League club Bournemouth.

Lowe, 29, scored 10 goals in 35 appearances while on loan at Swansea City in 2023-24.

But the forward is now on the lookout for new employers after he was confirmed as one of five senior players who will leave the Cherries this summer.

So could a return to Wales be on the cards?

Swansea head coach Luke Williams is an admirer of Lowe, and said towards the end of the season that the Welsh club would consider offering the Jamaica international a permanent contract after what was a decent loan spell.

However, Williams was quick to point out that Lowe’s earning power might put him out of Swansea’s reach.

As a free agent with a proven record in the Championship, Lowe is unlikely to be short of suitors in the next few weeks.

Swansea must weigh up whether they want to push hard for Lowe, or look elsewhere as they bid to add firepower to Williams' squad.

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Swansea’s City’s majority shareholders have provided the club with a cash injection for the fourth month in a row.

A new share issue has seen the consortium of American owners provide just under £3m worth of funding.

It comes less than five weeks after the most recent funding, taking investment to £10.5m since the turn of the year – and close to £25m over the past 12 months.

In an update to members, external, Swansea City’s Supporters' Trust said further share issues are to be expected next month, echoing a statement from the club in February, external which said “additional equity injections” were to follow as part of budget plans and were to help support the costs of the playing squad and day-to-day operations.

The shares will boost the holding of Swansea LLC – the US-based company that includes Steve Kaplan, Jason Levien, Jason Silverstein and current Swans chair Andy Coleman.

It will also decrease the shareholding of others, including the trust whose stake is now at 9.58% – with 5% of that protected. Their position on the club’s board is also unaffected.

This comes following the publication of the club’s accounts that confirmed a pre-tax loss of £17.9m for the financial year ending July 2023. As an average, that meant the club were losing around £1.5m a month.

It was an increase on the previous year despite an increase in turnover of £1.8m to £21.5m.

In July 2023, the club’s wage bill also stood at £21.5m.

The losses remained within compliance with EFL profit and sustainability rules, with Coleman saying in April: “We have been working diligently to put the building blocks in place to turn around the footballing and financial performance of Swansea City.

“Much work remains to be done. The Championship is a very unforgiving environment, and we hold no illusions about how difficult it is to succeed on the pitch and off it."

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Swansea City captain Matt Grimes was among a number of players who are already back on the training ground ahead of the new season.

Grimes, 28, was joined by the likes of fellow long-serving midfielder Jay Fulton in returning to the club's Fairwood base.

It's part of a mid-summer 'check-in' arranged by boss Luke Williams, who was also back in training gear overseeing some ball work with a handful of his squad.

In a social media post, external made by the club, players are seen going through fitness and medical tests as well as some light drills in keeping with Williams' desire to ensure players and staff stay on top of any issues.

Further players will be due in for their off-season checks before Williams' first pre-season in charge begins on 1 July.

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Josh Ginnelly is close to getting the green light to rejoin Swansea City’s squad for day one of pre-season.

The winger saw the majority of his first season at the club wrecked by injury.

Signed on a free from Hearts last summer, Ginnelly managed two goals in eight appearances before being ruled out in September by an Achilles problem.

The 27-year-old made significant steps towards a comeback last month when he returned to his first individual sessions on the grass.

While most of Swansea’s squad have left their Fairwood training base during the close season, Ginnelly has been returning to keep on course with his comeback.

And Swansea now expect him to be ready to link up in time for the start of pre-season on 1 July.

It will be a boost for manager Luke Williams, who has said he was excited to see what the ex-Preston wideman can offer.

Joe Allen, who recently agreed a new one-year deal, has also returned to the club’s HQ as he returns from a toe problem suffered in the final weeks of the season.

Williams recently said players are expected to check-in midway through their break, while the side are expected to continue their build-up to the 24-25 campaign in Austria.

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Alan Curtis hopes Swansea City will emerge from “a big summer” with a squad capable of competing in the top half of the Championship next season.

Swansea finished 14th in 2023-24, an arduous campaign which began with struggles under Michael Duff and ended with more encouraging signs following the January appointment of Luke Williams as head coach.

Williams is now part of a recruitment process which Swansea need to get right if they are to lift themselves into play-off contention in the next campaign.

Club legend and honorary president Curtis says the process of reshaping the squad is up and running – even if things are “very quiet at the moment”.

“The players are still looking at contracts to see if they can get a better offer, or rather agents will certainly be doing that,” Curtis said.

“To be fair to Luke, he has not taken a summer holiday himself, because he feels he has not worked for it. It’s going to be a big summer.”

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Swansea said farewell to six loan players at the end of their season – Carl Rushworth, Harrison Ashby, Bashir Humphreys, Charlie Patino, Charles Sagoe Jr and Jamal Lowe – while Liam Walsh and Przemyslaw Placheta are leaving at the end of their contracts.

Negotiations over a new deal are ongoing with Jamie Paterson, whose contract expires next month.

Whether Paterson stays or not, Swansea have vacancies for new recruits throughout their squad.

“We probably will need a goalkeeper, I think we could do with another centre-forward and possibly another midfield player,” Curtis said.

“The basis of the squad is there and with a few additions, who will cost a little bit of money, we could be a force to be reckoned with next year.”

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Swansea City midfielder Azeem Abdulai has been named in the Scotland Under-21 squad to face Turkey and Austria in friendlies next month.

Swansea announced last week they had taken up an option to extend Abdulai's contract by 12 months, meaning he is tied to the Welsh club until the summer of 2026.

Abdulai, 21, made seven substitute appearances in the Championship last season and started three cup matches.

The Scotland youngsters travel to Istanbul to play Turkey on Monday, June 3 before facing Austria in Vienna on Friday June 7.

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Wales defender Joe Rodon will be hoping the Swansea City connection proves key at Wembley this weekend as Leeds United bid for an instant return to the Premier League.

Leeds will be back in the top flight at the first attempt if they beat a Southampton side managed by former Swans boss Russell Martin.

Four former Swansea players are expected to be in United's squad for Sunday's Championship play-off final - Rodon, Dan James, Joel Piroe and Connor Roberts.

Piroe, who swapped the Swansea.com Stadium for Elland Road last summer, scored his 16th goal of the campaign in the decisive 4-0 win over Norwich in the second leg of the play-off semi final.

Wales stars Roberts - who is on loan from Burnley - and James came off the bench in that game, while defender Rodon started alongside another international team-mate, Ethan Ampadu.

It is a strong Welsh connection that could prove pivotal against Martin's Saints side, who are also hoping to bounce straight back to the Premier League.

"It's a massive occasion,” Rodon said on Leeds United TV.

“We are just delighted to give everything, especially something to look forward to for the whole club, for everyone involved."

Rodon was at boyhood club Swansea when they made the Championship play-off semi finals in 2020, before getting a big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur later that year.

Since then he has only made 24 appearances for Spurs, spending time on loan at Rennes in France before signing up for a season-long stay at Leeds.

Sunday's game will be Rodon's 50th appearance for United - and the outcome could determine whether he joins Leeds on a permanent basis.

Either way, there is plenty of speculation he will leave Spurs this summer, having not made an appearance for them since May 2022.

For now, though, he is concentrating on getting Leeds back into the big time.

"We are going to be focused this whole week now and we are going to give everything and hopefully try and get over the line," he said.

Martin, of course, has other ideas. He is 90 minutes from managing in the Premier League for the first time after leaving Swansea last summer, with Wales' David Brooks among his forward options for the Wembley final.

"It would be the biggest achievement of my life outside being a father," he told Sky Sports News.

"The dream is to put this team out on to the biggest stage every week - to show how brave and good they can be. We're one game away from doing that.

"I'm really proud. The responsibility of leading this club is big anyway, and then to do it at Wembley is huge."

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Luke Williams says there is a “need to be present” as he looks to improve Swansea City’s squad during the summer transfer window.

Williams is in his first close-season break as Swansea’s head coach having taken charge at the Championship club in January.

He has ruled out the idea of going away on holiday because he does not want to “miss any opportunity” to bolster Swansea’s squad.

“I’d be irresponsible if I did anything other than the maximum to try to be a good head coach for Swansea,” Williams told BBC Sport Wales.

“It’s too much of a privilege for me to be sitting in the sun. I have a garden. Maybe a couple of afternoons I can sit there with a cold beer.”

Swansea are aiming to strengthen every department of their squad in the coming months.

The Welsh side said goodbye to six loan players at the end of 2023-24 and announced that Liam Walsh, Nathanael Ogbeta and Przemyslaw Placheta will be leaving when their contracts expire next month.

Jamie Paterson may also depart, although talks over a new deal are continuing with the attacking midfielder.

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While Swansea have a recruitment department led by Paul Watson, Williams will have a significant role to play in the addition of new signings.

“If there are players to watch, I will be jumping on a plane or going wherever I need to go,” he said.

“If that player wants to meet me and wants me to convince them, I need to be there, not at the pool bar.

“It’s a huge deal for a player to pick a club, so if they feel this club or this manager really wants me, that often is the thing that swings the decision. So I need to be present.”

Williams says he will also be a regular visitor to Swansea’s Fairwood training ground during the close season, with staff on duty there three times a week.

“They are going to tell me one or two things that they won’t tell me if I am not there,” he added.

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Swansea City's end-of-season retained list has to be lodged with the EFL this weekend, meaning there could soon be news on the futures of their six out-of-contract players.

Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton, Liam Walsh, Jamie Paterson and Przemyslaw Placheta all see their current deals expire this summer, as does fringe left-back Nathanael Ogbeta, who is on loan at Bolton Wanderers.

Luke Williams is keen to ensure there is some experience in his squad next season, with 34-year-old Allen, Naughton, 35, and Paterson, 32, all offering plenty of Championship know-how.

Swansea’s head coach has also praised the impact of Placheta since his January move from Norwich City, although he has also expressed some concern over the winger’s injury record.

Walsh is another player who Williams admires, but whose fitness issues will be a worry.

The midfielder has managed only 34 Swansea appearances – including just 10 league starts – since joining from Bristol City in 2021, thanks largely to a succession of injury problems.

Ogbeta, 22, has made only three Swansea appearances since joining from Shrewsbury Town in January 2022.

He has played 16 times since joining Bolton on loan in January and could play a part in the League One play-off final against Oxford United on Saturday, though he was an unused substitute in the two semi-final games against Barnsley.

All EFL clubs must send their retained lists to the EFL by the third Saturday in May – which comes this weekend.

That could mean concrete news on Allen and everybody else is imminent - although it may well be that contract negotiations continue after the deadline.

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The Swans might not be in this year's Championship play-offs, but a famous night secured their place at Wembley on this day in 2011.

A euphoric Liberty Stadium hosted the second leg of a semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest.

After a goalless encounter at the City Ground four days earlier, the scene was set for a special night in south Wales.

Club legend Leon Britton curled the Swans in front after 28 minutes.

Five minutes later the lead was doubled when Stephen Dobbie's driven effort beat Lee Camp in the Forest goal.

Former Cardiff City and Wales striker Robert Earnshaw pulled a goal back for Forest and set up a nervy last 10 minutes.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser and came close when Earnshaw was denied a second only by the post.

With one last roll of the dice, Camp went up for an injury-time corner, but Swansea cleared and broke to score the clinching goal and send the home crowd into ecstasy.

Darren Pratley raced clear to shoot into an empty net from just inside his own half and seal a 3-1 victory.

It was a moment and night that will live long in the memory of any Swansea fan.

Pratley left the Swans following the play-off final, choosing to sign for then Premier League side Bolton Wanderers.

The now 39-year-old is still going strong after signing a new deal at current club Leyton Orient this week.

Pratley joined the O's during the summer of 2021 and managed 37 appearances for the League One side this season, having helped the club win promotion the previous year.

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Carl Rushworth enjoyed a successful season-long loan at Swansea City this season, and his performances in goal were one of the bright spots in a bumpy campaign.

The 22-year-old was named players' player and supporters' player of the year, keeping 10 clean sheets in 46 appearances.

But he has now returned to parent club Brighton & Hove Albion - leaving a big hole to fill.

Swansea head coach Luke Williams doubts he will be able to secure Rushworth's services again because of the goalkeeper's Premier League potential.

But such is the Seagulls' strength-in-depth between the sticks that Rushworth could again be on his travels next season, having freely admitted he enjoyed his time at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Brighton's first-team keepers this year under boss Roberto De Zerbi have been Bart Verbruggen, Jason Steele and Tom McGill.

Steele has been linked with a summer move to Arsenal, which would free up one space in the senior squad, but Rushworth is not the only young keeper to have impressed on loan.

James Beadle, 19, won countless admirers during his spells at first Oxford United and then Sheffield Wednesday, with the Owls also keen for the return of their young Brighton loanee.

Dutch stopper Kjell Scherpen also impressed on loan for Sturm Graz in Austria before a knee ligament injury ended his season in December. The 24-year-old signed a new Brighton deal that month that runs until 2027 and is still clearly in De Zerbi's plans.

Repeat loan hopes of clubs eager to again bag a Brighton keeper for next season could rest on pre-season - and whether Steele stays or goes.

Verbruggen, with the Netherlands, and Canada's McGill are expected to miss the start of pre-season due to international commitments, opening up the door for Rushworth and Beadle to stake their claims.

“Beadle and Rushworth are both very good goalkeepers," De Zerbi has said.

“Maybe in pre-season we start with both because Bart will play in Europe and Tom the Copa America with Canada.

“I will have much time to analyse both (Rushworth and Beadle).”

Swans and Owls fans may find themselves keeping tabs on Brighton's pre-season form as much as any Seagulls follower, but with very different perspectives.

The hope will remain that once more, six do not go into three as De Zerbi finalises his squad numbers for the new campaign.

Even then, being made available for a loan will be just the first stage, with other clubs sure to cast covetous glances at Beadle and Rushworth in particular - Premier League new boys Ipswich Town just one name to be linked already with the Swansea favourite.