Zeidane Inoussa has played for Sweden at various age-grade levels Swansea City have agreed a deal to sign winger Zeidane Inoussa from Swedish club BK Hacken The Championship club have not disclosed the fee for the first signing of the Alan Sheehan era but it is understood to be 'significant' "It's important that we carry this season's momentum into next and getting our first signing done this early is great," said boss Sheehan The 22-year-old will sign a five-year contract which will take effect on 1 July "I'm looking forward to working with Zeidane," added the Swans' recently upgraded permanent head coach "We want to be an aggressive team with and without the ball and we believe he has all the attributes to do that and to make us better." Sheehan eyes signings as five Swansea players depart Premier League the 'dream' for Swansea - Sheehan Inoussa left his homeland to join Caen as a teenager and got his first taste of senior football with the French club He had loan spells with Real Murcia and Valencia's second-string side before returning to Sweden to play for Brommapojkarna in 2023 Inoussa moved to Gothenburg-club Hacken last year and has since scored nine goals in 23 appearances and had been linked with a number of clubs including Celtic said: "Zeidane gives us something different to what we've had this season We hope that he's a player who will get fans off their seats "We're delighted to have completed this deal so early and we believe it will help us to hit the ground running in August." Inoussa will be joined in Wales this summer by fellow countryman Melker Widell, who agreed a move in the last transfer window Swansea are also lining up a move for Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales. 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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Thank you to all the members for the Jack Army who cheered on the Swans against Oxford United in our final game of the season. Check out our pick of the pictures of the magnificent home support at the Swansea.com Stadium. © 2025 Swansea City Association Football Club Limited Swansea had won at Oxford earlier in the season Joe Allen's distinguished playing career ended with a draw as Oxford United came from behind three times to deny Swansea City victory on the final day of the Championship season Wales great Allen played 70 minutes after announcing this would be his farewell appearance almost exactly 18 years after he made his league debut on this ground But there was no winning send-off for the midfielder and fellow Swansea veteran Kyle Naughton thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser from Przemyslaw Placheta Swansea first went ahead thanks to a sparkling Eom Ji-Sung goal only for Oxford to level deservedly before half-time through Greig Leigh's superb volley Ronald restored the home side's lead but his half-volley was swiftly cancelled out by a close-range effort from Michal Helik Josh Tymon claimed a third assist of the afternoon when he picked out Liam Cullen to head in what looked like being the winner but former Swan Placheta capitalised on a late Lewis O'Brien error to drive home in the second minute of added time That meant some frustration for Alan Sheehan in his first game as Swansea's permanent head coach but his team end the season in 11th having lost only one of their final seven games Oxford finish their first season at second-tier level in 25 years in 17th having achieved their survival target last weekend this had looked like being significant a fixture in the final-day scrap to avoid relegation But the fact that both sides have successfully pulled clear of danger meant much of the focus was on Allen who was made captain for the day and had a hand in Swansea's eye-catching opening goal Allen stroked the ball wide for Josh Tymon The South Korean international did the rest dancing inside on to his right foot before curling the ball from the corner of the penalty area and into the far top corner of Matt Inrgam's net There was no lack of intensity from either side Ben Cabango seeing a header cleared off the line – and appeals for a penalty turned down – before Ruben Rodrigues was denied at the other end by Lawrence Vigouroux Joe Allen started and ended his career at Swansea either side of spells at Liverpool and Stoke City But the Swansea goalkeeper could do nothing when Tyler Goodrham's free-kick was headed up rather than away and Leigh's delightful finishing brought his sixth goal of the season when Stan Mills broke the home offside trap and beat Vigouroux with a shot which bounced to safety off the far post Tymon's curling cross evaded Zan Vipotnik only for Ronald to arrive at the far post to guide the ball high into the net but Oxford swiftly found another response from another Goodrham set-piece as Leigh headed across the face of goal for Helik to drive home from a couple of yards out Cullen then met another fine Tymon delivery to score his 12th goal of the season – but Placheta had the final word against the club he played for last year as Oxford ended 2024-25 on a high note I really enjoyed a lot of our attacking play and we scored three really good goals but I didn't like us defensively at all which is out of character for us "Two set-pieces and then the 94th minute of the final game we gift them another goal we have two legends of the game leaving the football club "We wanted to get three points but sometimes things are bigger than that and those two guys deserve everything that they get." "That shows what the team's all about We knew when we came in it was going to be a big task to keep the team in the division "We've shown an incredible spirit and even if we've lost games we've never been out of them It's a nice spirit and quality to have and today was no different "We went behind three times and we responded I'm sure Swansea will be disappointed but for us it was a nice fitting tribute in 25 games in which the team have shown form-wise they've been a top 10 team "That's quite amazing really considering where they were It's a fitting end to take a point and finish in 17th place." To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Ferdinan at 77 minutesSubstitutesNumber 12 Płacheta Match OfficialsReferee: James BellAssistant Referee 1: George ByrneAssistant Referee 2: Matthew JonesFourth Official: Greg RollasonMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightSwansea 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) 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 Leeds (25) and Millwall (24) have won more points than the Swans (P12 W7 D2 L3) Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Ollie Cooper (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time Mark Harris (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner Michal Helik (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half Liam Cullen (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner Alex Matos (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Kyle Naughton signed a new one-year deal to stay at Swansea last summer but will now leave the Championship club Veteran defender Kyle Naughton will leave Swansea City when his contract expires this summer has played 331 Swansea games since joining the Welsh club – who were then in the Premier League – from Tottenham Hotspur for £5m in January 2015 Swansea have indicated they would have been prepared to offer Naughton a deal to remain at the club beyond this season but the player has decided the time has come to move on all the family are coming down for the game They say time flies when you are having fun and it has gone so quick," said Naughton "It has been very difficult in some ways but in other ways not so difficult because I think in football you have a way of knowing your time is up somewhere "But I have been here 10 years and I feel like I have been part of the family and part of the community Swansea make improved contract offer to Darling Naughton has been a dependable figure throughout his spell in Wales operating primarily as a right-back but also playing at centre-back Sheffield-born Naughton began his senior career with the Blades before moving to Spurs in 2009 Leicester City and Norwich City before Garry Monk brought him to Swansea Naughton has made 25 appearances this season and will reach the landmark of 300 Swansea league games should he feature when Alan Sheehan's side host Oxford United in their final fixture of the Championship campaign on Saturday (12:30 BST) "I have met so many people who I know if I came back here in 10 years' time there would always be someone here I could call upon and that's a special thing you don't get at every club," added Naughton News that Naughton will depart follows fellow Swansea veteran Joe Allen's announcement that he will retire after the Oxford game Swansea City defender Kyle Naughton will bring down the curtain on over a decade with the club when we face Oxford United this weekend. The 36-year-old, whose contract is up this summer, will leave the Swans having been an important figure ever since first arriving from Tottenham in January of 2015. Across 329 appearances, with the prospect of one still to go against the U’s at the Swansea.com Stadium on the final day of the season, Naughton has been a club stalwart and one of its most consistent and reliable performers. In his Swans career, Naughton has featured as a full-back, centre-back, sweeper, wing-back and central midfield, and proved adept wherever he has been tasked with playing in the white shirt. It is telling that arguably one of his most memorable moments in a Swansea shirt came just last March when, having clearly suffered a hamstring injury in the south Wales derby, he battled through the pain barrier to make sure he beat a blue shirt to a ball in behind the defence and cleared. His enduring quality is underlined by the high regard he has been held in by a succession of Swansea coaches and managers. Graham Potter rated him as the most technically gifted player in his squad during the 2018-19 season, while Steve Cooper, Russell Martin, Luke Williams and Alan Sheehan have all praised his professionalism and unhurried class. Following that move from Spurs, he helped the Swans secure an eighth place finish in the Premier League; the second-highest finish the club has ever achieved in the football pyramid. After relegation from the top-flight, Naughton was a prominent figure in helping secure back-to-back play-off appearances in 2019 and 2020, although in each of those years Brentford would scupper his and Swansea’s hopes of returning to the highest echelon of English football. He has continued to be an assured and calming presence in recent seasons, starting both games of the first south Wales derby double as the Swans racked up emphatic 3-0 and 4-0 victories. He will bow out against Oxford, where he will make a 300th league appearance in Swansea colours if called upon. Just like Joe Allen, who has confirmed he will retire following Saturday’s game, Naughton has always preferred to forego the spotlight, and is typically self-effacing and humble when assessing his own career. But the calibre of clubs he has represented, and the longevity of a career spelt at such high levels of the game, is a testimony to his enduring quality on and off the pitch. We know all Swans fans will join us in wishing Kyle and his family all the best for the future.  Thank you, Naughts. Once a Jack, Always a Jack. Kyle Naughton and Joe Allen have played more than 550 Swansea games between them Alan Sheehan says Swansea City must look for experience in the transfer market this summer after revealing Cyrus Christie Kristian Pedersen and Jon McLaughlin will leave the club alongside Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton both made farewell appearances as Swansea drew 3-3 with Oxford United on the final day of the Championship season Swansea had announced on the eve of the game that Allen and Naughton would depart Sheehan has now confirmed that defenders Christie will also be released when their contracts expire next month alongside 37-year-old keeper McLaughlin And having been appointed permanent head coach earlier this week the Irishman says Swansea must bring in players with Championship know-how when the transfer window opens "I think we are going to have to get the right blend," Sheehan said "I think we are all very clear on that I think we all agree that we want to bring in potentially really good players but we want to give them that opportunity to thrive and in order to do that the right experience and the right blend." While Allen and Naughton have opted to leave centre-back Harry Darling is the only senior out-of-contract player who has been offered a new deal Swansea will also lose another established second-tier player in Lewis O'Brien though they are interested in re-signing the on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder Sheehan says he expects a "busy week" with Swansea looking to do some early summer transfer business BK Hacken winger Zeidane Inoussa looks close to arriving for a significant fee and Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales is also on Swansea's radar We want to be aggressive in the right areas of recruitment and try to be aggressive on our targets," Sheehan said Allen captained Sheehan's side in his final Swansea appearance before handing the armband to Naughton when the right-back arrived in his place on 70 minutes Oxford claim late point in thriller at Swansea Allen to be remembered as a national treasure The duo received a huge ovation from a sell-out crowd at that point and again at full-time when they were given a guard of honour by Swansea's players and staff as they came back on to the field for the end-of-season lap of appreciation and for those two to get the send-off they got from the fans it was incredibly justified," Sheehan added "I think they could always add [something] We have all been there - it gets to that stage "We have to respect their decisions [to leave] and appreciate what they have done in their careers." Swansea City Under-21s extended their three-year unbeaten record at the Swansea.com Stadium with a dominant victory over Sheffield United on Monday afternoon.  In-form striker and Swansea boy Morgan Bates headed home the opener in the first half before Ben Lloyd's curling strike found the net before the break to put the hosts two goals to the good against the Professional Development League North champions Sheffield United went down the 10 men after the break as Lennon Patterson was dismissed for a foul on Sam Parker Thomas Woodward netted his 18th goal of the season before captain Lloyd completed his brace and Ramon Rees-Siso registered his first stadium goal in the closing stages as the hosts ran out handsome winners Filip Lissah made his second consecutive start for the age-grade side following eight months on the sidelines whilst Sam Parker came into the starting 11 after he and Lloyd had featured from the bench in the senior side’s draw against Oxford on Saturday It was a strong start for the hosts and in-form Bates who netted a hat-trick last time out against Birmingham City but a fingertip save from Coby Hewitsob pushed his strike out for a corner Lissah went close moments later as his shot was gathered by the Blades' stopper after the defender looked to turn in Jacob Cook's initial shot from 30 yards And the Swans took the lead in the 20th minute as Bates was found at the back post and he made no mistake to head into the top corner for his fourth goal in two games It could have quickly been two for the young Swans as a smart team move allowed Lloyd to whip a ball in but it flashed across the face of goal as Parker arrived at the far post seconds later Kit Margetson made the first notable save of the afternoon as Alfie Atherton struck a low shot on target but it was comfortable for the Welsh keeper.  thanks to skipper Lloyd producing a fine finish Woodward sent the midfielder through one-on-one and he chipped the ball around Hewitsob for his second goal at the Swansea.com Stadium this season.  Swansea also started off the second period brightly Parker latched onto the rebound but lofted it high and wide Blades defender Patterson was shown a straight red card for a sliding tackle on Parker down the right but Hewitsob would deny him a goal as he pushed away a powerful strike from the youngster The Swans were in control as they were enjoying possession in the Blades' half and they were rewarded with a deserved third goal Lloyd's thunderous strike was fumbled by Hewitsob and Woodward raced goalward to slide home from close range And skipper Lloyd would bag another goal with yet another fine finish as his low strike found the bottom corner from outside of the box Rees-Siso made an impact from the bench as Hewitsob denied the winger’s attempt at goal and he then sent a strike over the crossbar But the scholar would eventually get his goal showing his pace and outrunning the Blades' defence to round the keeper and fire home for the fifth and final goal.  Swansea City Under-17s’ Professional Development League Cup campaign ended in defeat as Luton Town secured the trophy in the final at the Swansea.com Stadium who had done superbly to reach the showpiece had the better of large parts of the opening half with striker Harvey Gray having their best chance But Alfie Shepherd fired the Hatters ahead six minutes before the break and the visitors took control of the contest from that point Tate Xavier-Jones headed in their second just before the hour and Benedict Benagr classily claimed their third It was a disappointing way to round off Swansea's run in the competition but coach Joe Roberts and his players can be justifiably proud of the quality and resilience they have shown to get to this stage They certainly had their opportunities on the day particularly in a first half where after an understandably cagey opening with a trophy on the line there were a couple of chances in quick succession Tom Wright in the Swansea goal securely held Benagr’s strike after the Luton youngster had cut in from the left before Kai Rhodes had a shot saved by Lucas Thomas at the other end and then nodded the follow-up into the side-netting Swansea grew in confidence from that early chance and a slick switch of play ended with Bobo Evans trying his luck from distance but Thomas was equal to his right-footed effort The Hatters keeper then had a lot off when he advanced and failed to punch a free-kick into the box but Ben Phillips was unable to adjust to send his header goalward with Christian Chigozie doing well to steal possession and head towards goal but he dragged his effort wide of the target and a lovely piece of footwork from Harlan Perry worked room for the captain to shoot but he slipped at the vital moment and his strike lacked power as a result Rhodes sent a low effort wide of the near post after Alex Godfrey’s astute cutback had run through to him but Luton’s more direct approach was given them opportunities of their own and Wright did well to save with his feet after Harry Fox had been found in the box But Swansea missed the best chance yet just past the half-hour mark Evans produced lovely footwork to beat a defender and round keeper Thomas before unselfishly squaring for Gray but the striker was denied what looked a simple tap-in by a brilliant covering challenge And the missed opportunity was punished when Luton took the lead a few moments later The Hatters broke into space down the left and Benagr’s low cross was fired home emphatically by Shepherd The Swans had a good spell of pressure as the half-time whistle neared but they returned to the dressing room a goal behind Their deficit nearly doubled early in the second half goalscorer Shepherd heading wastefully over from a good delivery to the back post Harry Fox swung in a corner which was nodded back across goal and Xavier-Jones was on hand to head home from close range It left the hosts needing a quick response and they nearly got one when substitute Callum Jones – the hat-trick hero the semi-final win over Cheltenham Town – brought down a bouncing ball and got away a low left-footed effort But Luton put the game to bed with 23 minutes to play when Benagr set off on a mazy run and exchanged passes with Dylan Stitt before firing home Swansea had a late chance to get on the scoresheet when Jones who had been lively since his introduction sent a low shot towards the bottom corner from a clever corner routine but the strike was blocked as the academy side suffered defeat at the end of a memorable cup run Lloyd Asamoah Jr (Samuel Hincapie-Alfonso 84) This content is from an external website which may store cookies you have not consented to Josh Tymon says Swansea City can head into the summer full of optimism following their strong end to the 2024-25 campaign Tymon continued his fine personal form with a hat-trick of assists in Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Oxford United on the final day of the season While disappointed to have conceded a late equaliser against the U’s the Swans still ended up taking 17 points from the last eight games of the season under now head coach Alan Sheehan “I think there is a lot to be positive about putting him joint-top for the Swans for the season alongside Ronald “If no-one has looked at the run we have been on and is not excited for next season then I am not sure what else could get you up for it to be fair they have been incredible with us over these few months.  “This period with Sheez in charge has given everyone a lift and I think there should be real optimism heading into the summer and hopefully we can start next season well.” Saturday’s game also saw the Swans say farewell to Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton after a combined 560 appearances in club colours Allen captained the side in his final outing and was replaced by Naughton in the 70th minute with the pair getting a tremendous standing ovation from all corners of the Swansea.com Stadium “I have come across Joey over a number of years “To come into the changing room here when I first signed and seeing those two in their corner of one side of the room at Fairwood it will be surreal for them not to be there when you hear them you know they are two incredible people two unbelievable footballers and a massive credit to them for what they’ve done for this football club.” Watch our bitesize highlights from Swansea City's Championship fixture against Oxford United at the Swansea.com Stadium Joe Allen retired from professional football on 3rd May Iwan Williams looks back at the career of a Cymru legend There was little attention given to Cymru’s friendly win over Estonia at Parc y Scarlets This was a time when Cymru seemed destined to build for the future and miss out on major tournaments A low key friendly for John Toshack’s side with only four thousand in attendance Little did we know then that it would mark the start of Joe Allen’s long and successful international career A ten minute debut cap that led to major tournaments the respect of his teammates and opponents beard tributes and sixteen years of fantastic service to the national team Joe didn’t possess his superpowers back then He made his Swansea debut earlier as a 17 year old A loan move to Wrexham in 2008/09 resulted in two games and one goal By 2008/09 he began playing regularly for Swansea in the Championship with the season ending with his first senior Cymru cap becoming a fixture in the Swansea side and earning plenty of caps and international experience under Gary Speed and Chris Coleman The early caps and exposure to the harsh reality of international football (he played in the 6-1 defeat to Serbia in 2012) helped shape Joe for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign when he played an integral role in Cymru’s historic qualification He was a Premier League player with Swansea in 2011/12 and remained in the EPL with Liverpool from 2012 to 2016 following manager Brendan Rodgers in a £15m deal If Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were the stars pick the ball up from the defence and find Bale or Ramsey his exquisite pass for Aaron’s goal against Russia being the perfect example His fitness and stamina levels were incredible phenomenal workrate and he wouldn’t give the opposition a second keep his side in possession and tactical awareness was something else a highly effective midfield unit in front of the defence They were all heroes that wonderful night in Lille but Joe’s performance against Belgium in Lille was elite No doubt that Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne still have nightmares about the bearded and long haired Joe fully armed with his superpowers and determined to see Cymru through As mentioned by one fan in ‘Don’t Take Me Home’ “Two thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered by water a good move abroad following a very impactful Euros and to this day I’ll never understand how Joe spent six seasons with Stoke City post-Euros His love for the quiet life away from the football and his well-known affection for keeping chickens the period following the Euros was just as good for Joe with his two Cymru goals coming against Moldova and Austria in late 2016 when Joe’s shot screamed into the net in Vienna was a very special moment for the travelling Cymru fans Targeted by the Republic of Ireland in the crucial qualifier in Cardiff in October 2017 Cymru’s hopes for the 2018 World Cup disappeared with Joe down the tunnel that night But there would be further success later on The Covid pandemic and delaying the Euros by a year worked in Joe’s favour as he suffered a ruptured achilles tendon in March 2020 He returned for the Euros campaign the following summer And he played in that historic qualification game against Ukraine in the Cardiff rain in June 2022 a key part once again in Cymru’s success under Rob Page He played against Iran and England in the disappointing World Cup campaign in Qatar couldn’t impose himself on the games as he had done previously The return to Swansea in 2022 resulted in three more Championship seasons but age and injuries limited his appearances Having initially retired from international football after the World Cup the announcement that Joe would return to the Cymru fold under Craig Bellamy in October 2024 brought smiles to the faces of Cymru supporters playing against Montenegro and Iceland in the Nations League and then one final cap in March 2025 against North Macedonia And that misplaced pass towards the end of the game in Skopje is a mere footnote Joe’s desire to get back on the ball led to David Brooks’ late equaliser Joe’s commitment to Welsh language interviews was excellent and by normalising Cymraeg and engaging with the media in Cymraeg on a regular basis he has no doubt inspired the younger generation to embrace our language he has shown that boys and girls in rural Cymru can reach the top and have successful careers in professional sport: where you’re from isn’t a barrier honest and hardworking: these are the words you associate with Joe Allen Having the spotlight fixed on some of his teammates suited him and he very much allowed his football to do the talking That he was made captain in his final game for Swansea (220 games and 11 goals in total) almost exactly eighteen years to the day since his debut Whilst Swansea fans were given the opportunity to give him a standing ovation it’s a real shame that Cymru fans aren’t able to do the same against Liechtenstein in June but football farewells rarely work out perfectly gratitude and admiration of so many in the game Liverpool and Stoke fans know all about Joe Allen Cymru fans fully understand how pivotal Joe was in the success over the past decade His wisdom and experience has already helped Josh Sheehan (a fellow bearded Westwalian) and hopefully Joe’s guidance and insight can be passed on to the likes of Kai Andrews and Charlie Crew The “Welsh Xavi” or “Preseli Pirlo” was a joy to watch and he’ll go down as one of the all-time Cymru greats Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course of a month donated at least £1 we would have enough funding for the next eight years To guarantee our future please consider making a donation today. had the shock of his life after his mum met the band at a service station Clare Cerasuolo said she chose not to book tickets for their Swansea show as the family feared they would not be back from a trip to London in time for the concert But after bumping into the band at Heston services to arrange for the family to come to the show had no idea about the special invite until his mum picked him up early from drama club The band then dedicated All About You to a delighted Joel in the crowd ShareSaveCCTV shows head attacking love rival teacher with wrenchAnthony Felton is jailed for attacking his friend and colleague in his office at school. 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Watch: Can you spot a fake football shirt?Vintage football shirt expert, Daniel Rees, explains how to keep your money safe from fakes. How a Welsh uni helps F1 star reach top speedFormula One season favourite Lando Norris is put through his paces at Swansea University. 'Blaring' wildfire burns close to homes Crews have been battling wildfires across Wales, with firefighters described as "on their knees". Watch: E-bike riders caught using police drone Police in Newport use a surveillance drone to spot a group of e-bikers on city streets. Rugby fans react to Cardiff administration newsThe Welsh Rugby Union is in line to take over the regional side. Watch: Massive wildfire filmed from aboveFirefighters are striving to get a huge blaze under control after it started four days ago. Joe Allen captains Swansea City in his final game against Oxford United this afternoon (12.30pm) The Wales international brings down the curtain on his illustrious career against the U’s while Kyle Naughton – who is leaving the Swans after 10 years with the club – is named among the substitutes Žan Vipotnik also comes into the team as head coach Alan Sheehan makes two changes for his first game since being appointed on a full-time basis in midweek Lawrence Vigouroux is once again in goal for the Swans with Ben Cabango making his 200th league start Josh Key and Josh Tymon complete the home defence Allen slots in alongside player of the season Gonçalo Franco and Lewis O’Brien in the middle of the park while Vipotnik leads the line for the Swans in the season finale Harry Darling is not fit enough to be involved after suffering a knee injury ahead of the loss to Millwall Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Josh Key Tickets are selling fast for Swansea City's season finale against Oxford United and supporters are urged to buy online to avoid missing out as the club says farewell to Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton Fewer than 1,000 tickets remain for the clash with the U's at the Swansea.com Stadium all of which are available to buy online below Supporters are also reminded that the Oxford fixture will feature a lap of appreciation first-team staff and the playing squad to thank the Jack Army for their fantastic support home and away this season May 2) until 5pm and on Saturday morning from 9am until half-time for supporters to buy with tickets also remaining available to buy online until kick-off Supporters wishing to buy over the phone can call the office on 01792 616400 (option 1) and any further enquiries can be directed to the ticketing team at ticketing@swanseacity.com for further guidance. Joe Allen: 'When you're 35 you're only getting worse' Swansea City and Wales midfielder Joe Allen is to retire after Saturday's final game of the Championship season is out of contract at Swansea this summer and has opted to call time on a career in which he has made almost 600 club appearances and won 77 international caps He was one of the key figures in the most successful period in the history of Wales' men's team playing at three major tournaments and establishing himself as one of the nation's finest players Allen's club career started and finished with boyhood club Swansea while he also spent four years at Liverpool and six years with Stoke City and had a brief spell on loan at Wrexham as a teenager This is not something I've taken lightly I've spent a lot of time pondering it," said Allen Reluctant hero Allen bids quiet but proud farewell 'I understand the Pirlo comparison now' I wasn't sure how the last few weeks would go but it's actually been a good spell really The Swans host Oxford United in their final match of the Championship season which will also be the last game of Allen's career "I've had a chance to reflect and take it all in I'm really looking forward to what's going to be my last game on Saturday," he added I didn't think I'd be sat here playing as many games as I have for clubs I have done at that level and for Wales as well "I've been incredibly fortunate and as I've reflected over the last few weeks very grateful and thankful to everyone who has has helped me on my way to have these amazing experiences." Allen's retirement is likely to come as a disappointment to Wales head coach Craig Bellamy, who brought the Pembrokeshire-born player out of international retirement after taking charge last year Allen had originally halted his Wales career in February 2023 Wales ended a 64-year wait to play at the World Cup in Qatar but the tournament was a disappointment for Robert Page's side as they went out at the group stage Allen started Wales' final game in the competition having returned after a long-term injury lay-off in their second group match against Iran and most memorably at the 2016 European Championship including three after coming out of international retirement in 2024 Allen was one of the stars of what proved to be a golden summer as Chris Coleman's side reached the semi-finals of Wales' first major tournament since 1958 Allen won his first Wales cap in 2009 having come through the ranks at Swansea where he made his league debut as a 16-year-old in 2007 He helped Swansea win the League One title in his full season then played a central role as they became the first Welsh club to win promotion to the Premier League in 2011 After a year in the top flight with Swansea Allen followed manager Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool in a £15m deal in 2012 and was part of the side which came close to ending the Reds' wait for a Premier League title in 2014 Allen played more than 200 games for the Potters staying with the club despite relegation to the Championship in 2018 before opting to rejoin Swansea when his contract expired in 2022 While he has had various injury issues since returning to Wales Allen remained an important figure when fit to play as well as being continually hailed for his influence away from the pitch He made just short of 250 Swansea appearances across two spells with the club he first joined at the age of nine Swansea City is delighted to announce that Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modrić has joined the club as an investor and co-owner. Luka is the most decorated player in Real Madrid history, winning six Champions Leagues, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, and five Spanish Super Cups.  He has also won the The Best FIFA Men’s Player award, The Ballon d’Or, and played in the 2018 World Cup Final. He is Croatia’s most capped player of all time and, at the age of 39, has made 45 appearances for Real Madrid already this season, scoring four goals.  Luka’s investment in the club is an endorsement of the club’s ambition and vision. He will play a key role in helping the club garner global attention and progress both on and off the pitch. On the announcement, Luka said “This is an exciting opportunity. Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fanbase, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. Playing at the highest level, I believe I can provide my experience to the club. My goal is to support the club’s growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future.” The Swansea City board jointly stated, “We are delighted that Luka has joined our ownership group. From our first discussions, it was clear that there was alignment on our visions and that Luka would be a real asset to our group. We’d like to thank Luka and his team for their support through this process, and we look forward to welcoming him to the Swansea.com Stadium to meet you all as soon as possible.” The club welcomes Luka, and we look forward to an exciting time ahead.  You can win a Swansea City home shirt signed by Luka Modrić! Click below to enter our competition. Alan Sheehan (right) is enjoying his second stint as Swansea's caretaker boss Swansea City captain Ben Cabango "would love it" if caretaker boss Alan Sheehan takes the role on a permanent basis Cabango struck their winner at Sunderland on Saturday a fifth triumph under Sheehan since he took the reins following Luke Williams' February departure After flirting with a fight against relegation the Swans now sit seemingly safe with 54 points at 12th in the table with four games left this season "You can see all the players are behind him now and I feel like he's done superbly well in his period he's had and the period he had previously as well," said Wales defender Cabango "So he shows the qualities as a manager and I'd be delighted if it was him." Cabango earns in-form Swansea win at Sunderland Key backs Sheehan to be Swansea's permanent boss Swansea have spent much of 2025 trying to avoid dropping towards the bottom three thanks largely to a run of seven defeats in nine league games which led to former boss Williams' exit the they have earned 17 points from nine league games Sheehan joined Swansea in the summer of 2023 initially as assistant head coach to Michael Duff Sheehan had seven games as caretaker boss in 2023-24 before reverting to his original role when Williams took over in January 2024 Having stepped up for a second time two months ago – and then agreed a deal until the end of this season last month - Sheehan is waiting to discover whether he will be offered a long-term contract The Sunderland victory was a fifth since Sheehan took the reins with only two defeats coming during what has been an encouraging run But question marks remain over Sheehan's long-term future with Swansea known to have considered numerous options in the search for Williams' permanent successor Cabango said it was "a great feeling" to hit Swansea's 58th-minute winner at Sunderland But he also relished a third successive clean sheet as part of their rearguard "I feel like we're loving defending as a team right now Everyone's just giving it everything," Cabango said we're always backing each other up and it's a good feeling that we've just got that foundation so we can build on it "We've got to appreciate the blocks because they're always key moments in games and I feel like people want to do it more and we want to throw our bodies on the line and keep them clean sheets." Cabango also believes winning at promotion contenders Sunderland and drawing 2-2 at leaders Leeds United in March shows they can "definitely" compete with the division's best "They're two one of the hardest places to go in the league and the performances we've showed here (Sunderland) especially in the Leeds game," he added "I think we were a bit more penned in (at Sunderland) but we're showing we have that quality when we do get the chances and we put them away 292 CommentsLuka Modric has made a career of seeing passes no-one else could So perhaps it is fitting that he has now made a career move no-one saw coming The Ballon d'Or winner has not left the Bernabeu but he has moved into the boardroom at Swansea City The 39-year-old has invested in the Welsh club, receiving a minority stake as a result. But quite why the Real Madrid magician has transformed into co-owner at a Welsh Championship club is a question that many have been struggling to answer since the surprising news broke. Swansea are thought to have been working on this deal for some time. So much so, there was some surprise at the club that the story did not leak before it did on Monday, with confirmation of the news that bewildered the football world coming by the evening. The club's US-based ownership group – who took over at the Swansea.Com Stadium in November – had been seeking an investor who could make an impact through their profile. Driven by majority owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, they specifically sought someone with football gravitas and global reach. Six-times Champions League winner Modric ticks all the boxes. When it was discovered the Croatia captain had an interest in club ownership, Swansea reached out with a proposal that eventually led to this week's eye-catching announcement. What information do we collect from this quiz?Why Swansea?Modric's only words on the matter so far are those issued in Swansea's statement He speaks of the club's "strong identity an incredible fanbase and the ambition to compete at the highest level" There is some talk of a link between Modric and Swansea's ownership group with numerous new faces on the board following the takeover of the club last November There are also suggestions that Modric – who played against Swansea twice for Tottenham Hotspur in the 2011-12 Premier League campaign – was at least aware of the club's profile and style of play from that time as well as the subsequent years in which the Welsh side won the League Cup and claimed notable victories at home and in Europe it seems a successful pitch from Swansea to Modric was enough to turn the head of someone who has already begun building a life outside football with investment in property and business Thierry Henry and David Beckham among those to have branched out into club ownership one Swansea source says Modric has viewed this as a chance to try something similar himself Luka Modric has 186 caps for Croatia and has played at five World Cups No-one should be expecting Modric to make a summer move from Spain to the centre of Swansea's midfield regardless of the fact that his contract with Carlo Ancelotti's side is up at the end of the season even if Real captain Modric leaves Madrid after 13 years and 28 major trophies - he is their most decorated player - the Championship will not suddenly be graced by a Galactico As far as Modric and Swansea are concerned the focus is on helping the club improve rather than directly influencing games He has already told club officials he wants to help in any way possible with Swansea chief executive Tom Gorringe noting how the World Cup finalist has shown a genuine knowledge of how the team are performing Recently appointed director of football Richard Montague will not see his role impacted but Swansea do want to draw on Modric's experience with the club having been criticised in the recent past for lacking footballing nous What he will not be is someone looking to inject big money into the club Cabango 'would love' Sheehan as permanent boss It is not known how much Modric has invested in Swansea or what stake he has received – and that may never become clear if he simply adds to the US group that currently has a 77.4% share what the iconic Modric brings is worth more than just cash with Swansea keen to capitalise on his global reach The club's owners recently acknowledged they need to drive new income after financial losses and their statement confirming Modric's involvement talked of "helping the club garner global attention" his 37.2m-strong Instagram following – where he posted the club's investment announcement – is bigger than that of most Premier League clubs One source spoke of the deal helping put Swansea on the map as they seek a new point of difference in the ultra-competitive Championship as well as the potential to attract better sponsorship and commercial deals Even the possibility of Modric's involvement swaying some potential signings has been mooted as well as the general lift the news has brought with players at the club's Fairwood training base said to be excited by talk of the unexpected new co-owner With a season to finish at Real – and no indication of his incredible playing career stopping just yet – Modric's association is more likely to be remote than rooted in south Wales Given the way his shock transition from footballing inspiration to owner and investor has got people talking Swansea are 12th in the Championship with four games of the season remaining having eased relegation concerns with a strong run under caretaker boss Alan Sheehan An open letter from Swansea fan Steven Carroll We came up against each other during the 2011-12 season our first in the top flight for nearly three decades We would remain there for seven seasons and with your help we'd like to get back there The backbone of the Wales side that qualified for the 1958 World Cup were born in the city who was voted the greatest foreign player in Serie A history In terms of local cuisine Swansea is famous for its laverbread with Rhossili Bay voted among the world's best 50 beaches in 2023 Back to the football though and since Roberto Martinez became manager in 2007 the club has been synonymous with the Swansea Way - possession with purpose as I call it If you can help us recruit players who suit that philosophy and can help us improve and get back to the Premier League And if you want to leave Real Madrid to see your career out here we won't mind that either View comments | 292Top storiesTrailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China 343 CommentsReal Madrid and Croatia legend Luka Modric has become an "investor and co-owner" with a minority stake in Championship side Swansea City The 39-year-old midfielder has joined Andy Coleman Nigel Morris and Jason Cohen among the ownership group That cohort purchased the shares of former majority owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan last November and the ambition to compete at the highest level," said Modric I believe I can provide my experience to the club My goal is to support the club's growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future." Modric signs one-year extension with Real Madrid competes for the ball with Joe Allen in 2012 when Swansea City were in the Premier League - Allen is in his second stint at Swansea while Modric is a veteran at Real Madrid Modric's move is believed to be his first into football ownership and he will continue to play for Real Madrid albeit with his current contract due to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season The Swans stated: "Luka's investment in the club is an endorsement of the club's ambition and vision He will play a key role in helping the club garner global attention and progress both on and off the pitch." Swansea chief executive Tom Gorringe added: "There is no better role model in the game for our players from the academy right through to the first team "His endorsement of our ambition and willingness to support us on our journey will be instrumental as we aim to continue to improve our results on and off the pitch he has demonstrated his passion for the club and a genuine passion to help us improve." The Swansea City board collectively stated: "From our first discussions it was clear that there was alignment on our visions and that Luka would be a real asset to our group." Swansea posted a pre-tax loss of £15.2m in the latest financial year That was a drop of £2.7m compared to the pre-tax loss of £17.9m posted for the previous financial year They posted a turnover of £21.5m for the year ending 30 June In a statement accompanying their annual financial status Swansea said: "The board acknowledges that whilst the magnitude of the operational loss is a product of the highly competitive environment within the EFL Championship in which the club currently competes the club will continue to focus on achieving operational efficiencies in order to maximise the resources which can be invested into the first-team squad "The costs of operating a stadium and two training facilities are significant and are growing "In the absence of any immediate prospect of a redistribution agreement between the EFL and the Premier League the club will continue to be reliant on the support of its ownership group as the main source of funding." View comments | 343Top storiesTrailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Midfielder Joe Allen has made almost 600 club appearances and won 77 caps for Wales Joe Allen once said that he wished he could have worn an invisibility cloak throughout his career such was his unease about the attention that comes with being an elite footballer The midfielder made the comment during a conversation he had recorded for a podcast with his good friend and former Wales and Swansea City team-mate Owain Tudur Jones That was a rare insight into Allen's innermost thoughts Although he is approachable and a thoughtful the 35-year-old prefers the quiet life to the one his sporting gifts have bestowed upon him But it is difficult to shun the limelight completely when Gareth Bale – Wales' greatest player of all in most people's eyes – describes you as a "legend" A central figure in Wales' golden age combative constant as his country soared to dizzying new heights with their inspiring ascent to the Euro 2016 semi-finals The midfielder was named in Uefa's team of the tournament in France and then helped Wales qualify for the next European Championship as well as a first World Cup in 64 years "I'm incredibly proud," Allen says "To be part of this group and era that have had many great times has been a privilege "The team-mates and staff I've worked with have made it incredibly special The support both for club and country in my career has been exceptional as well." Wales and Swansea midfielder Allen retires 'When you're 35 you're only getting worse' - Allen Allen reflects on his career in the same way he played – selfless He was more than a cog in the machine; his technical quality on the ball set the tone for his teams as much as his tenacity without possession That is why Brendan Rodgers took the then 22-year-old he had dubbed 'The Welsh Xavi' with him from Swansea to Liverpool in 2012 Allen would make more than 100 appearances for the Reds and then later the club he had supported as a boy and joined as a nine-year-old Allen's hero status was already secured having been part of the Swans team promoted to the Premier League a decade earlier but his second spell was hindered by injury Allen's game-time gradually decreased as his powers waned he had the self-awareness to know when the time was right to retire "Getting older and the physical demands the punishment that the body's gone through already and staying fit since coming back has been an issue," Allen says "It's not going to get any easier It's been a dream to come back and have three years at this club I haven't been able to play or give as much I wanted but it's been a pleasure to come back and I'm looking forward to a home game to wrap up this season and my career." Swansea's final game of the Championship season at home to Oxford United on Saturday will be Allen's last but there will be no such curtain call with Wales Allen had retired from international football in the wake of Wales' group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup only to be persuaded to reverse his decision last year by head coach Craig Bellamy not only as a player but as a role model for the younger members of his squad These conversations are tough to have but he was nothing but supportive," Allen says about the moment when he told Bellamy he would be retiring permanently "I thanked him for everything he's done for me I played with him as a team-mate and also had him as a manager and learned a lot from him from both sides I'll always be grateful for him giving me the opportunity to come back to the squad "He had some really important advice I'll certainly be using once retirement happens." Gareth Bale (left) and Neil Taylor helped Wales beat Belgium 3-1 in their momentous Euro 2016 quarter-final Bellamy had said he wanted to give Allen the "fairytale ending" his Wales career deserved He was at least given a rapturous welcome by his adoring fans when he came on as a substitute against Montenegro last October his first international appearance for nearly two years he was no longer the force he once was for his country A rare misplaced pass against North Macedonia in March almost consigned Wales to a last-gasp defeat in their World Cup qualifier only for David Brooks to equalise even deeper into added time now able to laugh at what was a "depressing" moment at the time "The team dug me out of a big hole by equalising it was great to come back and pull on the shirt again." Brooks said in his post-match interviews that he and his team-mates were even more determined to level the game so the "legend" Allen was not blamed for defeat Even though Wales were able to salvage a draw in Skopje it is a little sad that Allen was not able to bid farewell on home soil he had avoided such fanfare when he first announced his international retirement the aim was to qualify for the 2026 World Cup but My instinct told me I wasn't going to get there," he says it wasn't going to be at the level I wanted to be representing my country at a World Cup." No World Cup final act and no swansong this summer as Allen did not entertain the idea of making Wales' next game - a qualifier at home to Liechtenstein in June - a personal send-off "I think it would have complicated things in many ways to have played my last club game and then turn up for international football," he says "A tough choice but one I think made sense." And so when Wales return to Cardiff City Stadium in June they will be beginning life after Joe Allen once again A nation will show its appreciation for one of its greats but he will not be on the pitch to soak up the adulation For a man who wanted the anonymity of invisibility during his stellar career Oxford's season ends in style - The Dub podcast "It was almost like the season in a microcosm because it was much better than you expected but I think I'd go further than that and talk about how vibrant it was "It was an advert for what you want the Championship to be The one thing it didn't have was the nail-biting stomach-crushing pressure of some of the previous weeks." BBC Radio Oxford's Jerome Sale shares his thoughts on the 3-3 draw at Swansea on the final day former U's defender Ben Purkiss and supporter and podcaster George Elek on the latest episode of The Dub podcast They reflect on Oxford's final week of the season staying in the Championship and what might happen in the summer transfer window Listen to the full episode of The Dub podcast on BBC Sounds. Coach Anthony Wright was pleased to round off the season on a positive note after Swansea City Under-21s claimed an emphatic 5-0 victory over Professional Development League North champions Sheffield United. The victory meant the age-grade side extended their unbeaten record at the Swansea.com Stadium, which has been in place since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign. In-form striker and Swansea boy Morgan Bates headed home the opener in the first half, before Ben Lloyd's curling strike found the net before the break to put the hosts two goals to the good against the Professional Development League North champions. Sheffield United went down to 10 men after the break as Lennon Patterson was dismissed for a foul on Sam Parker. Thomas Woodward netted his 18th goal of the season, before captain Lloyd completed his brace and Ramon Rees-Siso registered his first stadium goal in the closing stages as the hosts ran out handsome winners. "We are pleased with our overall performance, it's a brilliant way to sign off our season," said Wright. "We've scored 10 goals in two games now, and every single goal has been of quality, and the boys have shown that many times this season. "We looked like a proper under-21s' team, albeit we still had eight scholars involved in the squad. As I've said all season, there's been times where we've gone very young and sometimes, it can be a big ask of a young squad. "But, in the game today, you see the benefit of those players being exposed to those situations with experienced under-21s' players around them. "We love playing at the stadium, and we'd love to play here a lot more often. The players love playing there in front of a crowd, it's a brilliant way to express what we are as an academy. "To have a record of three years unbeaten here is incredible. The teams we do end up playing here are top, so for us it's something we're very proud of." Joe Allen has opted to retire 18 years after making his Swansea league debut under Roberto Martinez Joe Allen was barely out of primary school when word got around about a midfielder from Pembrokeshire making a big impression in Swansea City's academy Allen has called time on a career which will see him remembered as one of Wales' finest footballers Having been hailed as a star in the making from a very early age having played at three major tournaments for Wales and racked up nearly 600 club appearances for Swansea – across two spells – Liverpool where he had a brief spell on loan as a teenager When Allen retired from international football in 2023 Gareth Bale described Allen as a "legend" Allen was rarely mentioned in the same bracket as Bale Allen was a major player during the golden era in the history of Wales' men's national team Joe Allen was part of the Swansea side who beat Reading in the 2010-11 Championship play-off final Allen's journey to the summit of Welsh football began when he joined Swansea aged nine he had featured in the first team squad and at 17 he was given a senior Swans debut by Roberto Martinez His first full season with the senior squad saw Swansea win the League One title in style playing the possession game which became a club trademark and was ideal for Allen given his quality on the ball Allen had another promotion on his CV having matured into a central figure in the Swansea team which reached the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers After a year thriving at the top level with his boyhood club Allen joined Rodgers at Liverpool in a transfer worth £15m Rodgers described his new recruit as "the Welsh Xavi" a mighty compliment which may not have helped given the expectation it brought playing regularly for three seasons under Rodgers including the 2013-14 campaign when they came close to ending Liverpool's long wait for a Premier League title Joe Allen scored seven goals in 132 appearances for Liverpool joining Mark Hughes' Stoke for £13m after Swansea missed the chance to bring their former favourite back to his homeland Allen made more than 200 appearances across six years with the Potters establishing himself as a popular figure among fans despite being part of the team which dropped out of the Premier League in 2018 Stoke's relegation marked the end – prematurely many felt - of Allen's time as a top-flight player as he stayed on in Staffordshire until 2022 A player who racked up games for much of his career has been blighted by injury issues since coming home meaning a frustrating end to his memorable career But Allen's quality remained obvious whenever his body gave him the chance to show it hence Craig Bellamy coaxed him out of international retirement in what proved to be his final season Even with the end near, Allen was mentioned in the same breath as Andrea Pirlo, the legendary Italian midfield player he had first been compared to almost a decade earlier Allen's class on the pitch was apparent until the final weeks of his career as was his professionalism on the training ground and influence within the dressing room Northern Ireland and Belgium during Wales' unforgettable run at Euro 2016 when he came on as a substitute for Jack Collison in a friendly win over Estonia which was played in front of 4,000 fans in Llanelli Allen's influence grew as Wales made strides under Gary Speed before he established national-treasure status during the Chris Coleman era Allen shone thanks to technical quality and vision on the ball as well as tenacity and desire when out of possession He was brave in any physical battle but also had the courage to play Allen's blend of skills brought many good days But if one period in his career is to be remembered above all others Allen was an ever-present in the Wales side who stunned the nation – and the football world – by reaching the last four at Euro 2016 Wales had not been to a major tournament for 58 years meaning expectations were modest as Coleman's team went to France Bale and the rest conjured a glorious run to the semi-finals which goes down as one of the great achievements in the history of Welsh sport Allen's place in the team of the tournament was a mark of his mighty contribution There were more international landmarks to come with Allen playing his part as Wales reached a second successive European Championship and then helping Rob Page end the long wait for a World Cup appearance Joe Allen's only start at the 2022 World Cup was in Wales' final group game against England because of fitness issues It was a pity for Welsh football that Allen was not fully fit for the tournament in Qatar where he rushed back after hamstring problems to feature as Page's team exited at the group stage Might Wales have made a better fist of things had Allen been fit and firing It certainly would not have done their cause any harm Allen followed Bale's lead by retiring from international football in the wake of the World Cup when aged 32 suggesting it was time to move on from "a great passion and love in my life" to make way for Wales' next generation Yet there was a feeling among many Welsh football watchers that Allen still had much to offer the national squad While Page rejected talk of Allen returning to the fold And so in October 2024, Allen won his 75th Wales cap some 22 months after his 74th He retires for the second time with 77 to his name Once again there will be questions about whether he has made the right move with plenty likely to argue that he still had a part to play with club and country But his place in the pantheon of Welsh greats has long been secure Swansea City Under-17s face Luton Town in the Professional Development League Cup final at the Swansea.com Stadium this afternoon (3pm) Tickets for this fixture are FREE, and can be claimed HERE. The young Swans reached the showpiece after a thrilling 4-2 victory in the semi-final against Cheltenham Town in March In the earlier rounds they saw off Newport County beat Bolton Wanderers 5-0 in their semi-final and their under-18s have recently been crowned champions of the EFL Youth Alliance South Coach Joe Roberts: "We've finished our under-18s season and now we've got this to look forward to and we're all excited "It's going to be a great experience for the boys and it's a stadium where they've watched a lot of games So for them to have this opportunity is really special.  They've done really well in their under-18s league so they'll be coming into the final with confidence and be looking to cap off their great season "Another positive of these competitions is that we're pitted against teams we never usually play so it's a new experience for both staff and players "It'll be really special if we can lift that trophy Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen is to retire from football following Saturday’s home fixture against Oxford United The Swans and Wales great hangs up his boots at the end of a stellar career which has included two spells in SA1 as well as stints at Liverpool and Stoke City At international level Allen has won 77 caps and represented Wales at three major tournaments.  He was named in the Euro 2016 team of the tournament as Chris Coleman’s Dragons embarked on an unforgettable run to the semi-finals in France and featured at the 2022 World Cup as Wales ended a 58-year wait to appear at the global showpiece Allen made his league debut for the Swans on the final day of the 2006-07 season against Blackpool having already featured in the FAW Premier Cup while only 16 years of age scoring an iconic south Wales derby goal at Ninian Park in 2009 – his first for the club – and being an integral part of the team that secured promotion to the Premier League in 2011 assured performances during the club’s maiden Premier League campaign saw manager Brendan Rodgers take him to Anfield with him in the summer of 2012 and Allen went agonisingly close to being a Premier League winner when they lost out to Manchester City in a thrilling title race two years later He would move to Stoke in 2016 following his fantastic showings at the Euros and went on to spend six years in the Potteries before returning to his boyhood club in 2022 While he has suffered injury problems since returning to SA1 Allen has remained an important figure for the Swans and has added 77 appearances to his tally over the last three seasons with the possibility of one more to come against Oxford this weekend he has been among the Swans’ stand-out performers during a strong end to the season notably making key contributions in the draw against Leeds United and the win over Derby County.  Allen has 230 Swansea appearances and 11 goals to his name While the man himself has always humbly shunned the spotlight and adulation he will unquestionably go down as one of the finest players to play for Swansea City and his status in the pantheon of greats of the Welsh national side is in no doubt but we know that so many of you within the Welsh football community will share our sentiment when we simply say; “Diolch Joe.”     Everyone at the club thanks Joe for his years of service and wishes him and his family well in his retirement Kyle Naughton says Swansea City will always have a special place in his heart as the defender prepares to bring down the curtain on his career with the club The 36-year-old has been with the Swans for over 10 years helping the club to a top-eight Premier League finish two play-off runs and two south Wales derby doubles who has yet to decide definitively if he will retire for good following Saturday’s game against Oxford United acknowledges he could never have imagined spending a decade in SA1 when he arrived from Tottenham during January 2015 But the Sheffield-born full-back admits Swansea has very much become a home away from home for him and his family and that the choice to bring an end to his time with the club has been a very difficult one to make “But I have been here 10 years and I feel like I have been part of the family and part of the community “With football you don’t think too far ahead I did not have much thought of how long I would be here because you have your length of contract and you play towards that “But one thing I can say is I have been glad I have been here for 10 years me and my family have absolutely loved it and it will have a place in our hearts forever “I have met so many people who I know if I came back here in 10 years’ time there would always be someone here I could call upon and that’s a special thing you don’t get at every club.” Naughton’s decade in black and white has seen its share of highs and lows; from claiming Premier League scalps it is the backing of the club’s supporters and the difference they can make that stands out for the veteran it’s not all been plain sailing,” he said.  “But one thing I can say is that when things are going well here the fans do really get behind you and they don’t realise how much that helps “When they turn up in numbers and they are shouting it does really give you a kick and help out.” And what of the highlights of his time in south Wales Naughton’s first Swans goal – a vital strike in a win over Sunderland that helped secure Premier League survival – stands out as does that top-half top-flight finish of 2015 there is that south Wales derby “double doube” But not all of Naughton’s highlights revolve around life on the pitch finishing eighth in the Premier League was definitely one and I hope that those sorts of experiences are ones the club will have again,” said Naughton “The goal against Sunderland to help us stay up was another good one “Doing the double in the derby meant a lot beating them lot down the road just once is a good feeling but to do it twice and make history was really nice “But it’s not always about football on the pitch though I have met some amazing people and made friends for life.  “It’s not just about football when you play for Swansea City Joe Allen believes it is fitting that his career will come "full circle" when he plays his final game for Swansea City against Oxford United on Saturday the midfielder will unquestionably go down as one of Swansea and Wales’ finest-ever players It is in no way an overstatement to say he has been an iconic figure in Welsh football He has made over well over 200 appearances for the Swans across two spells helping them reach and establish themselves in the Premier League before going on to have stints with Liverpool and Stoke City featuring in the second south Wales derby double in his first season back in SA1 and his influence has been underlined by crucial contributions to the recent draw at Leeds United and the home win over Derby County At international level there have been 77 caps for Wales with Allen representing his country at three major tournament finals most notably the never-to-be-forgotten run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 His outstanding showings in France that summer saw him named in the team of the tournament While Allen admits there was a temptation to play on he has ultimately decided that the wear and tear of a long career spanning over 650 games in professional football mean he feels he can no longer perform at the level he wants to And so he will bring down the curtain on an illustrious and distinguished career back where he made his league debut as a 16-year-old against Blackpool in 2007; the Swansea.com Stadium “It’s been a very difficult decision but one that I have given an awful lot of thought to,” said Allen as he reflected on his decision to hang up his boots and with what I have put my body through with the injuries and the level I can reach at the moment it feels like the right time to call time on my career “It’s a chance for me to give huge thanks to all the people who have helped me on the way through what has been a really enjoyable career “I think doing it on my own terms makes it better I spoke to so many people who were not happy with how their careers ended be that through injury or through being released so I am fortunate to be in a position where I am back at the club I love and to have had the chance to come home for the last three seasons “To be announcing my retirement as a Swansea City player makes it extra special it feels like everything has come full circle “My career has surpassed everything I ever thought it could be I am proud to have had the career and the experiences I have had whether that has been at the clubs I played for I have been part of some incredible groups with wonderful supporters While reflecting on a life in football that stretches all the way back to first joining the Swans books as a nine-year-old Allen was also quick to pay tribute to the friends and family who have been by his side throughout his football journey and I cannot tell you how grateful I am to everyone who have had such a big influence on me and helped me I would not be here without them,” he said my parents were the ones who were willing when I was nine years old to do whatever it took in order for me to chase my dream.  “I would like to thank my wife Lacey who has supported me through everything during the last 15 years Football demands so much focus and energy from a player so for her to always be supportive no matter what has been so important for me coaches and staff I have worked with.  who from day one here at Swansea and the other clubs I played for I cannot imagine a more lucky player and person I am so proud and so glad to have had all the experiences I have had over my career.” And what of the career highlights from a glittering tenure at the highest level but there are a select few that stand out prominently “The ones that spring straight to mind are winning the play-off final to get promoted to the Premier League and then that first season in the Premier League and some of the victories we had at home,” said Allen and then the chance to play for Liverpool – such an historic club – and be playing alongside some of the greats and fighting for the title there.  but the summer in France with Wales and qualifying for the World Cup are more memories and experiences where I find myself pinching myself.  “I would never have thought they were possible.” there is one more game and one more task at hand and he would love nothing more than to go out on a winning note in front of the Jack Army And he is the first to acknowledge it will be a highly emotional day as he finishes his career in the colours of the club he has supported since he was a boy They have been there from the very beginning Even though it feels like the time has flown by it has been a long time for them,” he said.  it has worked out great with us being at home in the last game of the season and I am sure it is going to be a very emotional day but for sure it is going to hit me with it being such a huge moment in my life they are what make wearing the shirt special “I have shared so many experiences with them over the years and to be part of the family of this club has been extra special I am grateful for everything they have done for me Departing Swansea City greats Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton take centre stage in our final free digital matchday programme of the season for our fixture against Oxford United Midfielder Allen will retire from football following Saturday's game against the U's while defender Naughton has confirmed he will leave the Swans after over 10 years in SA1 The pair of them share their highlights and memories from years of outstanding service to our club and explain why playing for Swansea has been such a special part of their lives We also hear from Alan Sheehan as he talks of his pride at being named head coach earlier this week You can also read a round-up from our player awards evening and a guide to our opponents as Gary Rowett brings the U's to the Swansea.com Stadium Jemima, 17, is missing from the Swansea area(Image: South Wales Police)Police are appealing for information about a teenage girl missing from her home. Jemima, 17, has been missing from Swansea since 5.30pm on Friday A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "Jemima "She was last seen at approximately 5.30pm on Friday "She is believed to have been headed to the city centre "If you have seen her or know of her whereabouts please get in touch The reference number *2500138004 should be quoted Alternatively information can also be given via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or its online form by clicking here Zeidane Inoussa has agreed to join Swansea City on a five year deal so now we can discuss some of the matters that could have jeopardised his move to west Wales The leak from Sweden (via Spain we are told) meant a busy weekend for Swans staff The Swans have signed Inoussa even though he is out of action for 4-6 weeks so that immediately should tell people that soon to be out of contract Harry Darling is in a similar situation He joins on July 1st which is the date Alan Sheehan prefers to see his full squad back and available for training for next season Inoussa’s current club IK Hacken play throughout the summer and the league they play in the Allsvenskan is a highly competitive competition Hacken play on a 3G pitch and to an extent the Swans are happy that Inoussa has an injury which wont affect his playing career injuries on 3G surfaces are very prevalent in the Allsvenskan Although the Swans couldn’t get Hacken to agree on a non playing caveat in the transfer there is a high expectation (from the Swans) that Inoussa won’t play again for that club a statement today by the player will throw that into doubt “BK Häcken is a club where I really enjoy myself and my main focus now is to come back and contribute in the matches I have left in yellow and black Then I am of course looking forward to the next step in my career which has been possible thanks to my time in BK Häcken" which is a five year contract which also allows profit and sustainability rules to not cause too much upheaval over one season The Swans have put down an initial sum of around €500,000 The rest of the agreed fee is then paid over the five years to come There is a sell on clause of around 22% but that remains to be confirmed plus his bonuses are likely to be unknown for some time What we can confirm is that Hacken are on a sum of money if the Swans get promoted to the Premier League or win a major trophy The Swans have been trailing Inoussa for some time even when Celtic were slow in getting their act together in the January transfer window The player was watched in the flesh on numerous occasions last year The reports on his fee are as far off as we have seen in recent times The actual fee is a matter for the club to disclose of at any time they choose to do so but non disclosure of fees is a regular thing these days Inoussa first came to notice last year but we had different decision makers at the club back then Obviously Ben Greenwood has the full details as he processes the contracts and as Chief Operating Officer Not that the finer details at this moment matter We hope this exciting young prospect fits in at the Swans and as per Eom who signed last summer he may well need time to settle in More on Inoussa to come plus Bianchini’s future at the Swans People will recall a lot of fuss over Noel Milleskog the Sirius player in the same league as Inoussa (Allsvenskan) in Sweden. We can exclusively reveal today that Noel is no longer seen as an option for the Swans as it stands. Bigger targets ahead of him. @SwedeStats… pic.twitter.com/yqLDoSfEzF You are always welcome to report Swansea Independent news with the correct credit given. Sign up for our forum and get the news faster, well moderated chat and much more. JavaScript is not enabled on this browser. For best viewing experience of this website, please enable JavaScript. Sorry, we cannot find your current location. Please enter a place name in the search bar. After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK, higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend, with cooler weather and isolated s… High pressure brings further fine and settled weather this week. Patchy cloud clears this evening leaving a settled evening with some late sunshine. Rather chilly beneath clear skies overnight with a frost developing in places and with light winds, some patchy fog may form in rural spots. Minimum temperature 0 °C. After a chilly start, a widely dry and fine day. With light winds and plenty of strong sunshine it will begin to feel quite warm. Cloudier in the east later. Maximum temperature 17 °C. The remainder of the week will see high pressure dominating. It will stay dry with sunshine at times. Though a breeze develops again, temperatures will be on the warm side. Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period. Overall, fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers, with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places. Overall, temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average. A selection of the best images as Swansea City Under-17s face Luton Town Under-17s in the Professional Development League Cup Final. This content is from an external website which may store cookies you have not consented to. Watch all the key moments from Swansea City's Championship meeting with Oxford United in our extended highlights package. The Sharks will welcome back Eben Etzebeth for Friday night’s United Rugby Championship match against the Ospreys in Durban (7pm kick-off). But while the Bok enforcer was missed last week in Belfast, Vincent Tshituka proved a more than able replacement in the second row. The elder of the Tshituka brothers finished high in the forward statistics from round 16 of the tournament and topped some of them. Tshituka was supposed to start on the flank against Ulster, but not long before kick-off, Etzebeth was ruled out of the match because of flu. That required Vincent to take his place, while brother Manu joined the match-day squad on the bench. The Sharks recovered from 0-19 after a poor first half to win the game 22-19, with both Tshitukas enhancing their reputations. The 26-year-old Vincent ruled the lineouts in Belfast, and also across the board in last weekend’s fixtures. The flank-cum-lock, won eight lineouts – the most in the round. He also topped the stats for most line-out steals with two. So far in the URC, Tshituka has stolen 10 lineouts. Tshituka’s versatility has not gone unnoticed by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. He wanted to invite Vincent and Manu to the alignment camp in Cape Town in March, but discovered that they did not have South African ID cards. This has subsequently been resolved, and the brothers now have full South African citizenship. That makes them eligible for the Boks. Vincent’s ability to move between the second and back rows is not unlike that of Franco Mostert. Mostert turns 35 later this year, and Erasmus will have his eyes out for a like-for-like replacement, and Tshituka is on his list. Tshituka will return to his favoured No 7 jersey for this week’s penultimate match of the league phase of the URC, with Etzebeth over his flu and in training this week. The Sharks will be keen to get Etzebeth going. Since suffering a serious concussion on December 7 last year, against Exeter in the Champions Cup, he has played just one match. That was a few weeks ago against Edinburgh, his comeback match after five months on the sidelines. That period also included a hamstring injury picked up at the Bok alignment camp. With Etzebeth surely starting against the Ospreys, the Sharks’ pack will be world-class. There will be double World Cup-winning Boks in Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Etzebeth, and Siya Kolisi, and a capped Bok in Jason Jenkins. Vincent Tshituka and James Venter or Phepsi Buthelezi will complete a pack that should be way too much for the Welshmen. The Sharks’ forwards have been consistently good for a while, but there appears to be a disjoint between forwards and the equally pedigreed backline. Game-drivers, Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse, have not been at their best, and coach John Plumtree needs them to regain their best form because time is running out before the playoffs. The Sharks are playing well within themselves, and must find their rhythm and cohesion against the Ospreys. They finish the league stage the following week, at home against the Scarlets, by which stage Plumtree wants the Sharks machine to be purring. Getty ImagesGareth VincentBBC Sport WalesPublished4 May 2025For 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 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 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 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 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 ImagesThen comes recruitment. There are vacancies to fill with Joe Allen Cyrus Christie and Kristian Pedersen gone along with loan signings Myles Peart-Harris and Hannes Delcroix 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 So while Ben Cabango and Co head for the beach chief executive Tom Gorringe and Swansea's owners to do to give the club a realistic chance of achieving anything significant next season