Swansea City’s Shifting Sands: The Bianchini and Yates Departures and What Comes Next

The summer of 2025 at Swansea City is proving to be a period of significant flux. In a matter of days, the club has seen the confirmed departures of Florian Bianchini, heading to Portsmouth on loan, and Jerry Yates, making a permanent switch to Luton Town for a reported seven-figure fee. These exits, particularly from the attacking ranks, have naturally raised questions among the Jack Army about the club’s readiness for the upcoming Championship season under permanent head coach Alan Sheehan. However, a closer look at the current transfer landscape and the existing squad suggests that these departures are not a sign of weakness, but rather a calculated clearing of the decks, paving the way for exciting incomings.

Florian Bianchini’s loan move to Portsmouth, while perhaps not a shock to those who followed his fluctuating form last season, nonetheless frees up a valuable squad spot and, crucially, a portion of the wage bill. The Frenchman, signed for a rumoured £2 million last summer, struggled to nail down a consistent starting berth, managing only three goals from 28 substitute appearances and eight starts. A loan spell at a fellow Championship side like Portsmouth offers him the chance for regular football and an opportunity to regain confidence, potentially returning to SA1 a more refined player. For Swansea, it’s an opportunity to assess his long-term suitability without the immediate pressure of his relatively high cost.

The permanent sale of Jerry Yates to newly-promoted Luton Town is arguably the more significant development. While Yates provided moments of individual brilliance during his two-year spell, his high salary was undoubtedly a burden, and his overall impact was perhaps not consistently at the level expected of a leading Championship striker. The reported seven-figure fee is a welcome injection of capital, especially considering the ongoing need for the club to adhere to Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. It’s a shrewd piece of business that allows the Swans to reinvest and reshape their attacking options with more suitable profiles for Alan Sheehan’s preferred system.

The timing of these exits, just days before the new season truly kicks into gear, is telling. It speaks to a clear strategy from the club’s hierarchy and the coaching staff. You don’t sanction the departure of two attacking players, one a permanent sale for a decent fee, without having plans already in motion to replace or upgrade. The void left by Bianchini and Yates is not one that the club can afford to leave unfilled if they harbour aspirations of a playoff push, as has been reported.

Indeed, transfer speculation surrounding Swansea City has been rife, and the pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fall into place. The Swans have already been active in the market, securing the services of several players. The likes of Zeidane Inoussa, a £5 million acquisition from BK Hacken, and young striker Bobby Wales from Kilmarnock, have already bolstered the attacking third. Inoussa, with 11 goals last season, looks like a direct response to the need for more potency upfront, an area where Swansea struggled last term, registering the second-worst goal tally in the top 12.

Beyond these confirmed arrivals, the rumour mill continues to churn. There has been persistent talk of Swansea rekindling their interest in Wycombe Wanderers forward Richard Kone. The fact that WalesOnline reported Swansea were “plotting a fresh bid” for Kone immediately after Yates’ departure suggests a direct correlation and a pre-existing plan. Kone’s dynamism and goal-scoring threat could be precisely what Sheehan needs to complement the existing attacking talent.

Furthermore, the overall strategy appears to be a blend of acquiring proven Championship quality and nurturing promising young talent. The signings of Ethan Galbraith, Cameron Burgess, and Ricardo Santos earlier in the window also illustrate a desire to strengthen the spine of the team across various positions. Galbraith, a highly-rated midfielder, fits the mold of a “Swansea player” with his technical ability, while Burgess and Santos add much-needed defensive solidity.

The message is clear: the departures of Bianchini and Yates, while creating initial gaps, are part of a broader, more ambitious recruitment drive. The funds generated and the freed-up wage budget provide Alan Sheehan with the flexibility to fine-tune his squad. The pre-season, which has seen the Swans undertake a training camp in Murcia and face opponents like Stevenage, Cheltenham Town, and Exeter City, will undoubtedly have highlighted areas for improvement and confirmed the need for specific player profiles.

As the start of the Championship season looms, the recent transfer activity at Swansea City, far from being a cause for concern, should be viewed as a positive indicator. The club is actively shaping its squad, shedding players who perhaps didn’t fully fit the long-term vision or carried significant financial weight, and simultaneously pursuing targets that align with Sheehan’s tactical approach. The expectation, therefore, can only be that these departures are merely the prelude to further, strategic incomings that will strengthen the Swans’ hand significantly as they prepare to launch their assault on the Championship.