The club has officially released its retained list for the 2025-26 Championship season, and as a lifelong Jack, I find myself reflecting on the end of yet another chapter in our varied history.
It’s particularly poignant to bid farewell to Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton – two players who epitomise everything that’s great about Swansea City.
Allen, our diminutive maestro, has been the heartbeat of our midfield for years, bringing that Barcelona-honed technical excellence back to South Wales. Naughton, meanwhile, has been the very definition of consistency and professionalism throughout his tenure. These departures, alongside those of Cyrus Christie, Kristian Pedersen, and Jon McLaughlin, mark the end of an era.
The situation with Harry Darling remains unresolved, with contract discussions ongoing. One hopes common sense will prevail – Darling has shown real promise and represents the kind of defender we need as we look to consolidate our Championship status.
The return of loanees Lewis O’Brien, Hannes Delcroix, and Myles Peart-Harris to their parent clubs is disappointing but expected. O’Brien, in particular, showed glimpses of the quality that made him such an exciting prospect at Huddersfield.
There’s genuine cause for optimism, however, with Cameron Congreve’s contract extension through 2026. His successful loan spell at Bromley has clearly impressed the hierarchy, and rightly so. This is precisely the kind of forward planning that reflects our academy’s continued importance to the club’s philosophy.
Speaking of the academy, the offers extended to Jack Fanning and the professional contracts for Callum Deacon, Josh Pescatore, Ramon Rees-Siso, and Thomas Searle demonstrate our continued commitment to nurturing homegrown talent, lets hope they and others are given the opportunity to step up to the first team.
The mutual termination of Maliq Cadogan’s contract and the departures of several other academy players – Richard Faakye, Sammy Henia-Kamau, Ben Hughes, Aidan Higgins, Kiel Higginson, Sam Seager and Osian Williams – remind us that football can be brutal, but these decisions are part of the game’s harsh realities.
As we prepare for another season, I’m reminded why I’ve supported this club through thick and thin for over five decades. It’s about more than just the football – it’s about identity, community, and the beautiful game played the right way.