Swansea City have completed a move for Blackpool striker Jerry Yates.
The 26-year-old, who can play either as a centre-forward or as a winger, has signed a three-year deal with the club with the option of a further 12 months, and becomes the third signing of the summer following the captures of Josh Ginnelly and Josh Key.
The value of the deal to take him to SA1 is believed to be in the region of £2.5m, which is the highest fee the club have paid for a player since the £3m capture of Bersant Celina in 2018.
Yates scored 15 goals for Blackpool last season, but his exploits weren't enough to save the Tangerines from relegation to League One.
He was previously linked with a number of Championship clubs this summer, including Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion, Bristol City and Ipswich Town, but it's the Swans who won the race for his signature.
Yates scored 46 goals in 139 appearances for Blackpool after making the move from Rotherham United in 2020, having previously come through the ranks at Doncaster Rovers.
He's also had spells at Harrogate Town, Carlisle United and Swindon Town.
Commenting on the move, he revealed he sought advice from former Swans hero Ashley Williams before putting pen to paper.
“I am really excited to be here, I hope I can adapt very quickly because I am really looking forward to getting down to work,” he said.
“I spoke to a lot of people before coming here, and I wanted to make sure I had the right advice.
“I spoke to someone who has close ties to the club, who played for Swansea and lived in Swansea in Ashley Williams.
“Obviously he gave me some great advice and, also, I have not enjoyed having to face Swansea over these last two seasons so if you can’t beat them, join them!
“I spoke to the gaffer and Paul Watson, and everyone at the club has been brilliant with me.
“The facilities are brilliant and I am just looking forward to getting started.”
As part of the deal, striker Kyle Joseph is set to head the other way, ending a two-year stay in south Wales.
Joseph made just 10 Championship appearances for the Swans, all of which were from the bench and came during the second half of the 2021-22 campaign. It was a spell that actually came off the back of a loan stint at Cheltenham Town, where he worked under current boss Michael Duff.
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Oxford United, netting nine goals in 37 league games, and has now returned to League One for an undisclosed fee.
