The January Transfer Window is a time where Premier League and English Football League clubs look to bolster their squads going into the critical stages of the season.
Swansea City look active in the market going into the final hours of the window, focusing on midfielders to replace long-serving captain Matt Grimes who departed for Coventry last week.
The Swans have brought in three new signings this January, defender Hannes Delcroix joined on loan from fellow-Championship side Burnley and midfielder Melker Widell from Danish side Aalborg. Widell rejoined Aalborg on loan and will join the Swans at the end of the season. Nottingham Forest’s Lewis O’Brien made a loan switch to Swansea until the end of the season.
5 – Andre Ayew
At number five is Andre Ayew, who signed for his second stint at Swansea from West Ham in the 2018 January Transfer Window.
Loaned out to Turkish side Fenerbahce for the 2018/19 season. The Ghanaian international hit the ground running upon his return, scoring 33 times in the league as Swansea reached the Championship play-offs in back-to-back seasons.
In both of these campaigns, Ayew gave Swansea the lead in the first leg of the play-offs over both Brentford and Barnsley.
His final appearance came in the 2020/21 play-off final as Swansea were defeated 2-0 by Brentford at Wembley. Ayew left for Qatar-based side Al Sadd at the end of that season.
4 – Jay Fulton
At number four is current Swans midfielder Jay Fulton who joined the club in January 2014 from Scottish side Falkirk.
In April 2014, Fulton made his debut for Swansea from the bench in a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. Loaned out to Oldham in 2015, the former Scotland under-21 international made 11 Premier League appearances in the 2016/17 season, before joining Wigan on loan in 2018.
Swansea’s seven year stay in the top-flight ended in 2018, but for Fulton, he has become a mainstay at Swansea, appearing 250 times in all competitions, scoring on 15 occasions, with his first goal coming versus Preston North End.
Fulton has made 19 appearances in 2024/25, scoring once.
3 – Matt Grimes
At the halfway point of this list is former Swansea captain Matt Grimes, who joined the Swans from hometown club Exeter City in January 2015.
Grimes made four Premier League appearances, before gaining more experience out on loan at Blackburn, Leeds and Northampton. Swansea’s relegation from the top-flight saw Grimes become a first-team regular at Swansea, scoring a penalty against Manchester City in the FA Cup.
The Exeter-born midfielder became club captain in 2019, skippering the side in two successive play-off campaigns as well as completing the double over Cardiff City in the south Wales derby in back-to-back campaigns.
After 333 appearances at Swansea, Grimes left for a new challenge this January, joining fellow Championship side Coventry, ending his 10 year stay at the club.
2 – Kyle Naughton
The player at number two is Kyle Naughton, another current Swans player to make this list, making the move to south Wales from Tottenham in January 2015.
Naughton, who has made 324 appearances for the Swans, has been at the club for the last decade, with his first appearance coming in a 1-0 away win at Southampton in February 2015.
The Sheffield-born right-back scored his first goal for Swansea came in 2017 as he netted against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, confirming the Swans’ Premier League survival with a game to spare.
Playing 20 times in all competitions this season, Naughton has become a Swansea legend and is only 40 appearances away from breaking into the club’s top 1o all-time top appearance makers.
1 – Nathan Dyer
At number one is Nathan Dyer, a key part of the club’s modern success, winning promotion with the club in 2013, as well as a League Cup final win in 2013.
Initially joining the club on loan in the January of 2009, he scored in his first south Wales derby, netting the opener in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff City. Dyer signed a three-year-deal at the Swans that following summer.
His first season at Premier League level, he netted in a famous 3-2 win over Arsenal. In 347 appearances for Swansea, his biggest goal arguably came in the 5-0 victory over Bradford City in the 2013 League Cup final, Swansea’s first major trophy in the club history.
In 2014, he scored in the another south Wales derby as the Swans prevailed 3-0 winners over Cardiff in a rare top-flight encounter.
A loan move to Leicester in 2015 saw Dyer become a Premier League champion. On return to Swansea, he stayed for another five years before retiring in 2021.