Swansea City have announced the signing of Nathan Wood.
The 20-year-old centre-back signs from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee. His contract is a two-year deal, with the option for another 12 months.
The youngster will now compete with the likes of Kyle Naughton, Ben Cabango and Ryan Manning for a place in Russell Martin's backline, with Ryan Bennett set to move on to pastures new this summer.
Wood joined the Boro set-up in 2015 and made his senior debut as a substitute in a 2018 Carabao Cup clash with Notts County – becoming the Teessiders’ youngest-ever player at 16 years and 75 days - before starting the subsequent ties against Rochdale and Preston.
He made his league bow the next season and has spent loan stints with Crewe and Hibernian in recent times. He has also represented England at age-grade level, and skippered the under-17s to a place in the 2019 European Championships.
It is a signing out of the blue, with little smoke around this one. He will wear the number 23 shirt in SA1 and will link up with his new team-mates when they return for pre-season training.
Swans chief Julian Winter did state the club's priority this summer would be a right-wingback and two centre-backs; with one of those central defenders now ticked off, attentions will surely turn to other targets.
It looks to be just the start of a busy summer for Martin and Co in Landore.
