Swansea City announce signing of Melker Widell as starlet reveals why he joined
Swansea City have completed the signing of Sweden Under-21 international Melker Widell.
The 22-year-old joins the Swans on a contract through to the end of June 2029 and will now be loaned back to current club AaB Aalborg for the remainder of the season.
The Danish top-flight side were only prepared to sanction a deal for the midfielder if he were to be loaned back for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here.
READ MORE: Matt Grimes joins Coventry City as star explains 'difficult' decision to leave Swansea City
News of the signing will be a boon to Swansea supporters, who have just seen skipper Matt Grimes leave the club for Championship rivals Coventry City.
Widell will join back with Swansea ahead of next season.
"Our desire to complete this deal now underlines our aim to be on the front foot," said head coach Luke Williams.
"If we had waited until the summer it would have been very difficult because Melker is a very talented player, and he is in demand.
"Technically he is incredible, he is a very creative and exciting player with a strong mentality. This is fantastic news, and it is brilliant to sign a player we have been following for a long time.
"We have spoken to Melker, and the chairman has gone and spent good time with him. He is the real deal, he is professional. He will bring something different. He can beat people, see passes and make connections at the top of the pitch. We are really excited."
“It’s going to be amazing, I am super excited to sign for Swansea,” Widell added.
“I have known about the club since I was a kid. There have been some iconic Swansea players, when we were kids we used to run around copying Michu’s celebration.
“When the club’s name came up, I was immediately interested. I spoke with Luke and Andy (Coleman, chairman), we had a call and the discussions were really good. I had a good impression of them, but also of the club itself.
“I only heard good things. It was really positive, and I really felt Swansea would be a great place for me.
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“Hearing about the club and how it is part of the community really resonates with me, to know that everyone is a Swansea fan. I have seen some clips on YouTube of some of the home games, and I can sense the atmosphere and just thinking about it now makes me want to close my eyes and be there.
“I am so excited and I cannot wait to show everybody what I have to offer, and hopefully we have some years of success to look forward to.
“I am sure if everything comes together as a team, a community and a city then it will be very difficult to stop.”
Meanwhile, WalesOnline understands Swansea's interest in signing Southampton winger Samuel Amo-Ameyaw is concrete.
Reports emerged on Friday morning stating Swansea were keen to bring in the 18-year-old on loan for the remainder of the season.
Top-flight side the Saints are keen to see him get more game-time having been in and around the first-team set-up this season.
A number of second-tier teams have been linked with his services, and Swansea's interest in him is indeed solid.
Swansea have also launched a bid for Peterborough United skipper Hector Kyprianou. You can read more about that here.