SWANS: Tom Iorpenda becomes ninth summer signing as Matos adds Wembley promotion winner to midfield

Swansea City have signed midfielder Tom Iorpenda from Huddersfield Town for an undisclosed fee, subject to clearance.

The 21-year-old has agreed a three-year contract with the option of a further 12 months, takes the number 16 shirt, and is in contention for Tuesday’s Championship game against Watford at the Swansea.com Stadium.

He is the ninth signing of the Swans’ summer window, and the second midfielder through the door in a week after Stephen Eustáquio’s arrival from Porto.

Promoted at Wembley, twice a player of the season

Iorpenda spent last season on loan at Notts County and barely missed a game: 53 appearances, three goals and seven assists as they went up to League One through the play-off final at Wembley. Meadow Lane’s supporters voted him their player of the season, and the dressing room gave him the players’ award too.

“I feel like I developed loads last season, both as a player and as a person,” he said. “I met many amazing people and I’m very grateful for the opportunity I had there and I’m hoping something similar can happen here.”

A Brighton academy product, he joined Huddersfield in 2022 and made his senior debut against Manchester City in the FA Cup, an afternoon he says still hasn’t sunk in.

“Playing against some of the players I grew up playing with on FIFA was mad, so to be on the pitch with them was crazy,” he said. “As a player that’s the goal, to be alongside them more often, and I want to keep playing against similar players in the future.”

What Matos wants him for

Head coach Vitor Matos said the signing gives him “something different in midfield”.

“He is an aggressive player who is confident in driving forward with the ball at his feet, but he also works very hard defensively, while having the quality to pick out progressive passes,” Matos said. “We are excited to have him with us.”

Sporting director Ben Stevens called him “an exciting central midfield prospect who had an outstanding season last year”, and said the club was confident that “working with Vitor and the team he will develop to his full potential and be a true asset to Swansea City”.

‘The perfect club that would suit me’

Iorpenda made 15 appearances for Huddersfield, two of them in the Championship, and says the step up is one he is ready for.

“It’s definitely going to be a big step up but I think I have all the right people around me to help me,” he said. “The Championship is full of big names, big players and I’m looking forward to testing myself.”

He said conversations before the move sealed it: “Speaking to people who have been at the club before and know about the club, they speak so highly about the place. Also speaking with some of the players and the hierarchy here, it felt like the perfect club that would suit me.”

The Swans, unbeaten in the league and 3-0 winners at Derby on Saturday, host Watford on Tuesday night before the window closes.