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. Premier League: Murillo equalises for Nottm Forest at Crystal Palace Zhao claims historic victory over Williams in Crucible final Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Watch: Fan catches ball while daughter covers his eyes VideoWatch: Fan catches ball while daughter covers his eyes Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages How Bournemouth turned tables on set-piece specialists Arsenal VideoHow Bournemouth turned tables on set-piece specialists Arsenal Vardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show 'Painful but we'll be back' - Luton's rise and fall 'Balls all over the Crucible floor' as pocket breaks during semi-final Video'Balls all over the Crucible floor' as pocket breaks during semi-final 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." Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. 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 Harry Darling is recovering from a fall prior to the Millwall away game last weekend, and as illustrated yesterday cannot walk unaided. This should put to bed some of the crazy talk around his omission over the past eight days. He also missed last Thursdays annual player awards dinner in Swansea. Greg Spires who works within, data manipulation, analysis and visualisation has looked into Harry’s current performance value and indeed who could replace him. These stats were valid as of April 1st 2025. Basically Harry is an exceptional defensive footballer with attributes in possession and for his position goalscoring. He is a real danger at set pieces with very good dual winning moments. We will link in Greg’s details below. However, what came out of this investigation is that there are players out there who has similar attributes to those that Harry possesses. He plays for Peterborough United, and that is twenty three year old Emmanuel Fernandez. However, he needs to work on his heading ability. These are just suggestions from an impartial analyst. It’s good to have different views. In 2023 Mads Bech Sørensen left Brentford for FC Midtjylland on a free transfer. The Danish centre back was at Brentford. His contract ends in 2027 but he is a strong contender. Again, this is a player with performance levels that compare somewhat to Harry Darling. He is twenty six, in his prime but would cost a fee. The final player is twenty seven year old Hull City, Alfie Jones. Maybe moving towards an age where the Swans would feel slightly uncomfortable in pursuing him ? Keep an eye on Greg Spires he’s making his way in the game. More on Harry Darling over the coming day or so. Analysis X @Greg_Spires & Photograph : Swansea City AFC 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 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. Man recalls moment car turned into 'ball of flames'Tony Johnson pulled a driver from a burning car after a crash with two vehicles in Bodfari. Watch: Labour MP criticises gender ideology 'damage'Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi says Welsh government and others were "captured" by LGBT charities. Race Across the World 'much harder than we thought'Sioned Cray and Fin Gough thought they were prepared for the challenge of the reality TV show. Party time in Merthyr as Martyrs clinch promotionThe fan-owned club won the Southern Premier League South title with victory at Penydarren Park. Paddleboard tour victims' families pay tributeFour people died after paddleboarding in "extremely hazardous conditions" on the River Cleddau. Judge sentences river death paddleboard firm ownerWatch as a judge sentences Nerys Bethan Lloyd for the gross negligence manslaughter of four people. Footage shows firm owner at paddleboard death sceneWatch as Nerys Bethan Lloyd tells police what happened during a fatal paddleboarding incident. 'He was a great listener to everyone'Bishop of Wrexham Peter Brignall and Mark O'Toole, Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, pay their respects. Watch as stranded dog rescued from cliff edgeEmber became stuck after chasing after a ball while out walking along a coastal path with her owner. Dangerous driver involved in 'shocking' crashSwansea Crown Court heard that Peter Gilmore had 44 previous convictions for 104 offences. Watch: Life raising a toddler with 'butterfly skin'Protecting Albi's skin is a daily battle for parents as it can blister or tear from any friction. Watch: 'Disgusting' vandalism of owl sanctuaryOwl sanctuary toilets targeted by vandals. Watch the moment thieves take charity truckOasis Cardiff, which supports refugees and asylum seekers, says the truck was crucial to its work. 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. 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 READ MORECrews knock down heavy fire at a Swansea homeby NBC 10 NEWS SWANSEA, Mass. (WJAR) — Firefighters converged on a Swansea home to knock down a heavy basement fire Saturday afternoon. Fire crews went to a home on Twin Acre Lane to respond to calls of a house fire. When they got to the home, firefighters spotted fire in the basement that was quickly spreading. Crews knocked down the fire within 30 minutes of arrival. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 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 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 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. 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 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. © 2025 Swansea City Association Football Club Limited 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 storiesLive For best viewing experience of this website 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 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 With light winds and plenty of strong sunshine it will begin to feel quite warm The remainder of the week will see high pressure dominating Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period 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 temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average 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 and the boys have shown that many times this season albeit we still had eight scholars involved in the squad there's been times where we've gone very young and sometimes you see the benefit of those players being exposed to those situations with experienced under-21s' players around them 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." 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.  Sheffield United went down the 10 men after the break as Lennon Patterson was dismissed for a foul on Sam Parker 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.  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 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 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) 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.” 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, Forest Green Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Oxford United and Crewe Alexandra. The Hatters, meanwhile, 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. We can't wait for Sunday to come around. "It's going to be a great experience for the boys. A lot of them are from Swansea, and it's a stadium where they've watched a lot of games. So for them to have this opportunity is really special.  "Luton will pose a tough test. 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. It will be a proud moment for everybody." 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. This content is from an external website which may store cookies you have not consented to. Watch our bitesize highlights from Swansea City's Championship fixture against Oxford United at the Swansea.com Stadium. 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 Premier League: Nottm Forest draw at Crystal Palace to stay in top-five race - reaction (WLNE) — The Swansea Fire Department said it fought a fire at a home on Twin Acre Lane on May 3 The department said that the home was “heavily involved with fire rapidly extending,” and that six vehicles were called to fight it The fire affected the first floor and basement of the home Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham may have the Hollywood spotlight, but Welsh rivals Swansea City are stealing some star power of their own with Real Madrid maestro Luka Modric making his first move into club ownership with a minority stake The 39-year-old Croatia midfielder whose contract at the Spanish giants runs until mid-2025 has joined American investors Andy Coleman Nigel Morris and Jason Cohen in the ownership structure While the amount invested by the six-time Champions League winner was not revealed Swansea said Modric would "play a key role in helping the club garner global attention and progress both on and off the pitch." I believe I can provide my experience to the club," he said "My goal is to support the club's growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future." Modric remains an important player for Madrid making 29 appearances in LaLiga this season and playing 13 Champions League games including a start in last week's quarterfinal first leg defeat to Arsenal Modric's investment comes as Championship side Swansea navigate challenging financial waters They posted a pre-tax loss of £15.2 million ($20.04 million) in the latest financial year -- a modest improvement from their £17.9 million loss the previous year The club reported a turnover of £21.5 million for the year ending June 30 Swansea referred to the harsh economic realities of England's second tier "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," the statement read With significant costs associated with maintaining a stadium and two training facilities and without "any immediate prospect of a redistribution agreement between the EFL and the Premier League," Swansea noted they "will continue to be reliant on the support of their ownership group as the main source of funding." Modric's arrival will sprinkle stardust on a Swansea side dreaming of a return to the Premier League and the treasure chest that comes with it -- though that dream will have to wait with 54 points to their name -- a distant 34 behind pacesetters Leeds United and Burnley who are locked at the top on 88 with just four games to play Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story and One Southcoast Chamber and the Robert F Stoico/First Fed Charitable Foundation are doing their best to make this time of the year a little more exciting Former Red Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon visits the Southcoast on May 20 as the guest of honor at the Celebrity Scholarship Dinner at the Venus de Milo in Swansea.  The Chamber's Katie Greene stopped by Townsquare Sunday this week to give us details was a member of the loveable "Idiots" who broke an 86-year old "curse" by winning four straight against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series Damon also won a World Championship with the Yankees in 2009 this event was run by the UMass Dartmouth Center for Marketing and Research," Greene said. "After the Center shut down during COVID the Chamber reached out to Professor Nora Barnes who had organized the Celebrity Dinner for many years She gave us the green light to revive the event and shared with us all her institutional knowledge In addition to Johnny Damon's appearance on May 20 Greene said the Chamber and the Stoico/First Fed Foundation will award a dozen scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are planning to attend college and current college students who are already attending classes One of the scholarships will honor former Chamber President Rick Kidder who led the New Bedford Chamber before retiring in 2023 Greene said Damon's presentation will include a one-on-one discussion with Chamber CEO Mike O' Sullivan "Anybody who has bought a ticket will have the opportunity to meet Johnny, take a picture with him or get his autograph," Greene said. Tickets can be purchased at onesouthcoast.com/celebritydinner Greene said there is a flash sale going on right now: you can save $50 per ticket now through May 9 by using the code word "CELEBRITY" at checkout If you would like your charitable organization or nonprofit featured on Townsquare Sunday, please email the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com Former Red Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon will be the guest of honor at the Celebrity Scholarship Dinner May 20 at the Venus de Milo in Swansea.\nRead More "Anybody who has bought a ticket will have the opportunity to meet Johnny, take a picture with him or get his autograph," Greene said. Tickets can be purchased at onesouthcoast.com/celebritydinner If you would like your charitable organization or nonprofit featured on Townsquare Sunday, please email the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com Another decent week for Oxford United as they ended the campaign in style with a six goal thriller and the end of season awards It was another end of season awards to remember for Ciaron Brown as he scooped the Player’s Player and Supporter’s Player of the Season who has missed the last few games through injury also achieved the feat at the end of the 2022/23 campaign The 27-year-old has been sensational this season The Northern Ireland international has also added four goals and three assists Following his double scoop at the end of season awards some reports claimed other Championship clubs are interest in signing Ciaron Brown However, head coach Gary Rowett dismissed the rumours, saying: “I think he’s been hugely important “He looked to me like one of those players that was in-between a left back and a left centre back I think he’s been an outstanding centre back who can play left back and shown his quality as well and a level of athleticism “I think he’s one that certainly this season he more than deserves to perform in the Championship “There’s a bit of PR out there from people saying that other clubs are looking at him but I’ve got no doubt that Browny will be our player next season Oxford ended the season with an entertaining 3-3 draw on the road at Swansea The hosts took the lead three times in West Wales but goals from Greg Leigh Michal Helik and Przemyslaw Placheta ensured a point The result means the U’s end their first season in the second tier for 25 years in 17th spot who travel to Crystal Palace in dire need of three points as they look to bookmark their fairytale Real Madrid still harbour ambitions of winning La Liga and ahead of the season-defining El Clasiso against Barcelona on May 11 Brighton have four games left of this Premier League season The first of these is a home tie against Newcastle United This is the Chelsea confirmed lineup for their Premier League clash with Liverpool on May 4 Check out how to watch Swansea City v Oxford United in the Championship Alan Sheehan will hope to mark his appointment as permanent Swansea City boss with a victory when his side welcome Oxford United to South Wales on the final day of the Championship season The Irishman was given the job in the week after leading the Swans clear of relegation and into the top half can go into 2024/25's last fixture without fear of the drop thanks to the turnaround under mid-season hire Gary Rowett RadioTimes.com has rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch Swansea City v Oxford United on TV and online Swansea City v Oxford United will take place on Saturday 3rd May 2025 Check out our live football on TV guide for the latest times and information Swansea City v Oxford United will kick off at 12:30pm You can watch the game live on Sky Sports+ Sky Sports + will feature more than 1,000 EFL games throughout the season and is included as part of Sky Sports packages Sky Sports customers can live stream the game via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices including most smartphones and tablets as part of their subscription NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs In working partnership with the Radio Times, bet365 has provided the following betting odds for this event: bet365 odds: Swansea City (13/20) Draw (3/1) Oxford United (15/4)* Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365 Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit *Odds subject to change. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org Note – The bonus code RT365 does not change the offer amount in any way What channel is Swansea City v Oxford United Championship match on live stream and kick-off timeCheck out how to watch Swansea City v Oxford United in the Championship can go into 2024/25's last fixture without fear of the drop thanks to the turnaround under mid-season hire Gary Rowett RadioTimes.com has rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch Swansea City v Oxford United on TV and online Check out our live football on TV guide for the latest times and information You can watch the game live on Sky Sports+ By entering your details you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply In working partnership with the Radio Times, bet365 has provided the following betting odds for this event: bet365 odds: Swansea City (13/20) Draw (3/1) Oxford United (15/4)* *Odds subject to change. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org you are agreeing to site title privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Subscribe to RT!Subscribe to Radio Times magazine and get £10 issues for £10! Could your home unlock your dreams?Releasing equity from your home could help give you the retirement you've been dreaming of? Holiday brochuresNeed inspiration of where to go next Request a free brochure and start your journey Ballon d’Or winner has set his sights on helping the club grow It was the transfer nobody saw coming: Luka Modric to Swansea City The most decorated player in Real Madrid’s history a six-time Champions League winner and one of the greatest midfielders of his generation pitching up as a co-owner at a mid-table Championship club was certainly an unforeseen end-of-season development A Ballon d’Or winner and Bernabéu star walking into the Swansea boardroom or exploring the Mumbles The sight of Modric cradling a Swansea-branded football in the accompanying press release prompted a few double-takes and sent a jolt across the game. “Hi Swansea fans, I’m Luka Modric and I’m excited to be part of the journey,” came his message The 39-year-old Croatia captain is in the twilight of his career but Swansea hope those words mark just the start of his involvement “My goal is to support the club’s growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future.” Swansea’s US-based owners put the feelers out with the aim of adding a high-profile investor and Modric made clear it was an opportunity he was keen to pursue as he began to think about retirement it was a no-brainer before even thinking about tapping into his knowledge and commercial pulling power Conversations ramped up before Christmas after Brett Cravatt Swansea’s hierarchy have been to Madrid to meet Modric and his team and Couce attended Swansea’s victory over Middlesbrough in March and spent a couple of days in south Wales shown around the Fairwood training base and the surrounding area by the director of football The deal was agreed long before it was announced this month Modric’s shareholding has not been disclosed but it is understood to be similar to the seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady’s 3.3% stake at Birmingham who Swansea will face in the second tier next season Modric was taken by the idea of pushing Swansea forward He has an awareness of the club from his time in the Premier League – he twice played against Swansea for Tottenham in 2011‑12 – and an understanding of the club’s identity He has been staying abreast of recent Swansea matches tuning into games and even discussing the strength of the opposition Madrid’s next match is against Celta Vigo on Sunday giving Modric scope to watch Swansea’s final game of the season The fact Modric played with the long-serving Swansea defender Kyle Naughton at Spurs had no bearing He is, however, keen to open his eyes and ears to the business of the game, already taking an interest in the operation of the club, including revenues and strategy. Swansea have shared detailed numbers in terms of their business model and structure. Perhaps most significantly he has volunteered to have conversations with potential Swansea signings – a useful sales pitch this summer? Free daily newsletterKick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football The words of Cristiano Ronaldo, Modric’s former Real teammate, spring to mind: “If I can be a club owner, why would I be a manager, sporting director or CEO?” Kylian Mbappé, a current teammate, bought 80% of Ligue 2 club Caen last year, and David Beckham (Inter Miami), Didier Drogba (Phoenix Rising), Paolo Maldini (Miami FC) and Gary Neville (Salford City) are among the former high-profile players to have acquired stakes in clubs. Harry Darling played for Cambridge United and MK Dons before stepping up to the Championship with Swansea City in 2022 Swansea City say they are "hopeful of a positive outcome" after making a fresh contract offer to Harry Darling sees his current deal expire this summer and will therefore be available on a free transfer after the Championship season ends this weekend Swansea attempted to tie Darling to a new contract earlier in the campaign with the offer remaining on the table for a number of months But with new boss Alan Sheehan keen to keep hold of one of his most consistent performers the club have made a new attempt to convince Darling to stay in Wales We believe it's a strong offer," director of football Richard Montague said "Harry is in a privileged position now where has the opportunity to look around and decide what's best for him and his family "But we believe we have put our best foot forward." Birmingham City and Sheffield United are among the clubs who have been touted as admirers of Darling Franco takes top prizes at end-of-season awards Signed for more than £1m by Russell Martin in 2022 the former MK Dons player has played 112 games – and chipped in with 12 goals – in a Swansea shirt This has been arguably Darling's best season yet "Alan and I had him in the office for about an hour earlier trying to persuade him why Swansea is the best place for him to continue his career and we really believe it is," Montague added "We are hopeful of a positive outcome but we recognise that there are a lot of clubs that can offer a lot of things and Harry needs to do what's right for him and his family "We are doing everything we can to try to make it a positive outcome for us." Kyle Naughton has been a Swansea player since January 2015 but could depart with his contract set to expire this summer Darling is a doubt for Swansea's final game of the campaign, at home to Oxford United on Saturday (12:30 BST), after getting injured in an "accident" on the morning of last weekend's defeat at Millwall Swansea have declined to divulge details of what happened with Sheehan saying on Thursday: "He has seen the doctor and we will have to assess him before the weekend." veterans Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton see their Swansea contracts expire this summer as things stand Cyrus Christie and back-up goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin Hannes Delcroix - who could again start in Darling's absence - sees his loan spell come to an end as do Lewis O'Brien and Myles Peart-Harris who returned to parent club Brentford in March because of injury Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 86 CommentsSwansea City have appointed Alan Sheehan as their head coach on a three-year deal following his successful spell as caretaker boss Sheehan impressed after taking charge in February following the departure of Luke Williams leading Swansea clear of relegation danger in some style The 38-year-old Irishman has now been handed the chance to make a long-term impression having been given a first permanent managerial role "It's a privilege to be at this football club and now I have the honour of officially being the head coach," Sheehan told the club's official website There's been a really good feeling around the place and I spoke over the last couple of months about building something "I've been in talks with the ownership for a good while now and I haven't really changed what I've been saying about moving forward Now is a really good time to move forward." Swansea were looking nervously towards the bottom three when Williams left the club on the back of a run of seven defeats in nine Championship matches But the Welsh club are now guaranteed to finish in the top half of the table having taken 23 points from Sheehan's 12 games at the helm The former Luton Town and Southampton coach was initially put in charge for five matches before he agreed in March to remain at the helm for the remainder of the season 'If Sheehan is better than other options Modric 'welcome to a game of five-a-side' at Swansea since taking charge at Swansea in mid-February Director of football Richard Montague said: "We've been very impressed with Alan since he's taken over as caretaker head coach for a second time "It was important that we carried out a thorough and detailed process for appointing our new head coach and we are very happy with the work that's been done and confident that we've picked the best head coach to take our club to the next level." Sheehan has always been interested in taking the role on a long-term basis though he repeatedly stressed that his ideas must align with the club's view on the way forward Former left-back Sheehan joined Swansea as an assistant head coach in the summer of 2023 linking up with then sporting director Paul Watson who he knew from their time together at Luton Having initially been part of Michael Duff's backroom staff Sheehan first took over as caretaker boss in December 2023 when he helped Swansea claim 11 points from seven matches before the arrival of Williams in January last year Sheehan returned to the backroom team before stepping up to the top job for a second time when Williams said his farewells Swansea were eight points clear of the bottom three in 17th but they have since delivered a remarkable upturn in form to climb to 11th in the table After defeat at Millwall last weekend ended Swansea's very faint play-off chances they finish the season with a home game against Oxford United on Saturday (12:30 BST) added: "Alan has shown strong leadership and tactical acumen during his time as caretaker head coach we believe he is the right person to take Swansea City forward and build on the progress that we've made towards the end of this season "We're excited and optimistic about what we can achieve together." Confirmation of Sheehan's backroom staff will be made in due course View comments | 86Top storiesTrailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China