Swansea City Near Deal with Ex-Crystal Palace Captain Joel Ward
Swansea City is reportedly close to securing a deal with Joel Ward, the former captain of Crystal Palace. This acquisition would bolster Swansea’s defensive options.
Joel Ward’s Career Overview
Joel Ward enjoyed a successful career at Crystal Palace, representing the club for 13 seasons. He joined Palace in the 2012-2013 season after transferring from Portsmouth, contributing to their promotion from the Championship.
- Appearances for Crystal Palace: 364
- Goals scored: 6
- Last season appearances: 3
Recent Performance
Ward had limited playing time last season, appearing only three times. He remained an unused substitute during the FA Cup final, where Palace triumphed over Manchester City.
Throughout the 2023-2024 season, he did manage to participate in 26 matches before taking on a lesser role.
Reflection on His Career
Ward described his cup victory as a “fairytale ending” to his time at Crystal Palace. In his farewell statement, he expressed gratitude for the “incredible journey” and shared cherished memories from his time at the club.
Impact on Swansea City
With the potential addition of Ward, Swansea City aims to strengthen their defensive lineup. Currently, the team relies on Kaelan Casey as backup to Ben Cabango and Cameron Burgess, while new signing Ricardo Santos has seen minimal playtime.
Ward’s experience and leadership could provide much-needed stability in Swansea’s defense as they strive to improve their season performance.
