Swansea City

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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

Image source, Getty Images

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?

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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).

Image source, Rex Features

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Swansea City AFC

Goncalo Franco was named Swansea City Supporters' Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season for the 2024-25 campaign.

Franco has been a pivotal figure under both Luke Williams and Alan Sheehan since joining from Portuguese side Moreirense last summer.

And his efforts from his debut season in south Wales were recognised at the club's annual awards ceremony, held at the Swansea.com Stadium, on Wednesday night.

Jessica Williams - who contributed four goals in the Adran Premier - clinched the Women's Players' Player of the Season award.

Goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux was named Men's Best Newcomer of the Season following a fine debut campaign with the Swans after joining from Burnley last summer.

The 31-year-old has played every single minute of league action for Swansea this season, keeping 14 clean sheets.

Young forward Aimee Deacon was named Swansea Women's Best Newcomer of the Season.

The 17-year-old scored 10 goals in all competitions, including two hat-tricks, in her debut campaign at the club after leaving Barry Town United last year.

Liam Cullen and Stacey John-Davis were both presented with Top Goalscorer of the Season prizes while right-back Josh Key's sublime strike in Swansea's 3-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on 9 April was named Goal of the Season.

Defender Arthur Parker scooped the Under-21s Player of the Season award as midfielder Jacob Cook took the Academy Player of the Season award.

Helen Elton - who recently retired after 13 years with the Swansea City Foundation - won the Community Champion Award.

Esme Allchurch - honorary president of the Swansea City Former Players' Association - clinched the Lifetime Achievement award.

The night ended with Wyndham Evans and Nigel Stevenson taking the Alan Curtis Award for their outstanding contribution to the club.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Owain Tudur Jones says he hopes Swansea City have "done their homework" by assessing various managerial options before opting to stick with caretaker boss Alan Sheehan.

Former Swansea and Wales midfielder Jones says the work done by Sheehan since he took over on a temporary basis in February cannot be faulted.

With the Swans poised to appoint Sheehan on a long-term basis, Jones says his only "concern" is whether his old club have scoured the market for potential managerial candidates.

"What cannot be questioned is the fact that he (Sheehan) has come in and done a really good job - any manager who has almost a 60% win ratio deserves a lot of credit," Jones told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"I think he has put the club in a difficult situation in terms of [it being] very hard not to give him the job.

"Only the club know how deeply they have delved into looking elsewhere and providing different options. That's the only thing I would question, have they done their homework in terms of looking?

"Then if Alan Sheehan has ended up being better than all of those people, then of course he deserves the job."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea had relegation concerns when Luke Williams departed after a run of seven defeats in nine matches in February.

But Sheehan has helped the Welsh club take 23 points from his 12 games in charge to pull clear of danger with something to spare.

With one game to play in 2024-25, against Oxford United on Saturday, Swansea are guaranteed a top-half finish and could end up in the top ten.

"At least he has given hope and the fans a bit of excitement towards the end of the season and building up to what hopefully will be a more consistent year next year," Jones added.

"He would have changed the style of play a little bit, going more direct. Not in terms of long passing, just getting the ball up the field a little bit quicker with those passes, getting more entries into the box, injecting a little bit more pace to the play.

"It's worked, there's no two ways about it, and the players seem to be enjoying playing under him, which counts for a lot as well."