Former Swansea City loanee Cyrus Christie says one of the club's owners didn’t want to sign him on a permanent deal last summer as he was “too old”.
Christie, who joined the Swans on loan from Fulham in January 2022, enjoyed a solid loan spell at the Swansea.com Stadium.
He was a player who many fans called for the club to sign on a permanent basis, having contributed three goals and five assists in 23 appearances in the Championship under Russell Martin last term.
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Given his situation at the time with his contract at Craven Cottage expiring at the end of the campaign, you’d expect many would have jumped at the opportunity to do a shrewd bit of business early in the window and keep continuity within the squad.
Martin was eager to see the versatile right wing-back return to the Swansea.com Stadium as a free agent, although a move failed to materialise. The Republic of Ireland international went on to sign for Hull City on a deal until 2024, with the option of a one-year extension.
As a result of Swansea’s transfer dealings, or lack of in the January window - the idea of turning down an opportunity to sign a proven Championship calibre player in a much-needed position for free, due to age, seems bemusing.
And Christie has opened up on what happened last summer, admitting he was baffled by what played out.
“At Swansea, I went there and got three goals and five assists in 23 appearances," he told The Beautiful Game podcast.
“I was loving it there, I enjoyed it. It made me change the way I was thinking at that time and how I’d been for the last few years.
“I got to see how it is to go into a club where the fans love you and take to you and the manager, I felt the love.
“Swansea said to me that they wanted to sign me after a few games, I was up for it and said 'yeah, let’s talk'. Then it went quiet, and nothing was happening.
“In my head, to be honest, I was always thinking I was going to come back. My missus loved it, the baby loved it, they’re on the beach and it’s nice. In my head, I was always thinking Swansea and I thought nothing of it.
“I then got to the end of the to the end of the season and before the last game of the season the manager said to me that the owners don’t want to sign you.
“One of the owners said 'you’re too old'. The other owner wanted to sign me, but he said there is no value.
“At the time I’m 29, but I haven’t hit the 30 mark at this point and I was a bit baffled, I said fair enough.
“In my head I was questioning if I should I play the last game of the season. I was thinking 'why should I risk myself for you?'
“But then I didn’t want to disrespect the manager or the fans because they had taken to me and the manager was unbelievable with me, so I played the last game.
“After that I thought let’s talk over the summer still, but the owner still said no, there’s no value in you (speaking to Christie’s agent).
“I spoke with the manager, and he just said I can’t offer you a contract.”
Six players left the club in January, while fans were treated to no new arrivals in south Wales, with the only addition to the squad being the return of loanee Morgan Whittaker from Plymouth Argyle. Whittaker has only played a total of 340 minutes in league matches since his return.
All this resulted in increased levels of frustration and discontent from fans and the manager, with a lack of investment effectively scuppering any outside hopes of a play-off run for Swansea.
The dealings of the January window have left a large impact on the club’s success in the second part of the season – Martin’s side have only claimed two wins since the transfer window slammed shut.
Many within south Wales will be left to wonder how many other players were turned down on the same basis as Christie, and just how different their squad might have looked if such additions had been made in the summer.
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