Your Swansea City headlines for Friday, July 1.
Two goalkeepers join
Archie Matthews says his relationship with Dean Thornton from his time at Swindon Town was a key factor in his decision to join Swansea City.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper was recently released by Birmingham City and is set to link-up with the Swans' Under-21s. He has signed a two-year deal with the club, who hold the option to extend his contract by 12 months.
Matthews' only senior appearance in the EFL came for Swindon Town in a 2-1 win over Northampton Town in February last year - with current Swan Jordon Garrick featuring in the same match. He most recently had loan stints with Bath City and Gloucester City.
"I'm really excited about this move, I see it as a fresh start in new surroundings for me," Matthews told the club website. "I had a trial here towards the end of last season and it just struck me what a welcoming environment it was, and how friendly the people are.
"I just had a good feeling straight away, it feels like everyone is on the same wavelength. I felt like I settled quickly and the challenge for me now is to make the most of the opportunity. I know Dean Thornton from Swindon, he was one of my first coaches, while I also know Steven Benda and Jordon Garrick from when they had loan spells at Swindon.
"But Dean had kept in touch with me, we first worked together when I was about 14 after joining the academy at Swindon when I was a scholar. I am pleased to work with him again, and it's all about getting more football under my belt now."
The arrival of Matthews came just one hour before the club confirmed the capture of free agent Remy Mitchell following his release from Arsenal. Englishman Mitchell has also signed a two-year contract with the Swans - who hold the option to extend the deal by an additional 12 months.
And the 18-year-old believes his time with the Gunners should help him slot in seamlessly at Landore. “I take pride in bringing leadership to the pitch. As a goalkeeper, I think that’s part of my job anyway and I enjoy it," he told the club website.
“I’m pretty used [to the way Swansea play] with the way we were asked to play at Arsenal which is another reason why Swansea was the perfect fit for me. I enjoy playing with my feet as well as being a goalkeeper.
“I want to hit the ground running, put my stamp on the team, show everyone what I’ve got, and work towards the first team.”
READ MORE: Swansea City complete double swoop as goalkeeper sends Arsenal classy message after exit
Kasumu to join Terriers
David Kasumu is closing in on a move to Huddersfield Town.
The midfielder was offered a new contract by Russell Martin's former club MK Dons, although he appears to have opted against signing the deal. Dons boss Liam Manning recently revealed he was planning for life without the central midfielder given the uncertainty surrounding his future.
There were suggestions he could secure a switch to Swansea, although WalesOnline last week revealed the club were not pursuing the 22-year-old. And Kasumu is now expected to join Championship rivals Huddersfield - who will be required to pay a compensation fee given that he was offered fresh terms by MK Dons and that is he under the age of 23.
Swansea remain interested in signing free agent Joe Allen while they are willing to offload Liam Walsh and Jay Fulton.
Martin 'totally' fits Swans
Roberto Martinez believes Russell Martin is the perfect head coach for Swansea's philosophies.
Spaniard Martinez played a pivotal role - both as a player and a manager - in the Swans' rise through the divisions that led to them reaching the Premier League in 2011. Following his successful period at the club, Swansea continued to evolve and enjoyed some glorious moments under managers including Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup.
And the Belgium boss believes that the Jack Army will always show patience when it comes to change - providing that the playing style is aligned with the club's beliefs and ambitions.
“I believe that all the top clubs have a way of playing and when you see a team that identifies with its DNA it becomes greater than the sum of its players, and I believe Swansea City has that,” he told SwansTV.
“Under Russell Martin it fits totally in that school and that train of thought, and every manager brings his own touch and ideas. But the general DNA is a general DNA that Swansea fans enjoy and accept.
“I think Swansea fans will always be patient with building a new team if you play the Swansea City way.”
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Four young guns sign pro deals
Josh Thomas, Ruben Davies, Kian Jenkins and Kai Ludvigsen have all agreed short-term professional deals with Swansea.
The announcement comes as part of another significant turnaround within Swansea's youth set-up, with all four players putting pen to paper on deals that run through until January 2023. Meanwhile, Jack Cooper, Seb Dabrowski, Rohan Davies, Aimar Govea, Ewan Griffiths, Cameron Llewellyn, Kit Margetson, Iwan Morgan, Sam Parker and Daniel Watts have all become scholars.
All 10 players have earned two-year scholarships at Landore and will step up to the Under-18s on a full-time basis.
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