Rob DaviesSwansea City rushed through the permanent signing of Nathanael Ogbeta from Shrewsbury Town last night in what appeared a move of panic as the deadline counted down to midnight.
But whilst the transfer might have been rushed, there is every reason to be optimistic about the left back arriving in SA1 after an encouraging twelve months in League One.
The fee was thought to be £300k with the player’s contract expiring in the summer, and he is likely to be the direct replacement for Jake Bidwell that Russell Martin was crying out for.
The Swans have been desperately in need of pace on the left hand side all season and fans will undoubtedly be hoping that Ogbeta can prove to be the outlet to compliment the experience of Cyrus Christie on the opposite flank.
Ogbeta started his career at Manchester City before moving to Shrewsbury in January 2021, making a total of 58 appearances, along with 7 assists and 2 goals. See one of his assists in the FA Cup last month below (first goal in the game).
The 20 year old hasn’t found it easy, and was left out of the starting line up earlier this season due to distraction with transfer links elsewhere and poor training as a result. It seems he has now turned the corner after winning the Young Player of the Year award at the Shrews last year.
He said earlier this season: “I’m feeling a lot more confident now. I know the expectation now. Obviously the first season was a real high for me.
“It was a real moment ‘wow – look what I’ve just done’ and then the next season the expectation probably got to me a bit. But the manager kept on top of me, made sure I don’t rest on my laurels, made sure he’s always getting the best out of me.
“For me as a player That’s definitely helped me re-find my form, the manager being there to push me and get at me, I feel I’m back and want to keep improving and help the team with goals and assists.
“One hundred per cent (it was a kick up the backside), As young players and in general it’s so easy to get complacent, you think you’re going to play all of the time and your desire to improve can start to go. But me being out of the team was the best thing that’s happened to me going forward, because it’s made me see that every game and training session matters.
“It was something I hadn’t really dealt with in terms of that interest. But I feel the key is to not allow the interest to get to your head.
“To hear the potential of going to the Championship could’ve messed with my head and the gaffer saw right through that. He was there to keep me level-headed.”
Ogbeta is likely to miss out on being in the matchday squad for tonight’s game against Luton but should feature Saturday.
