Club Connections | Stoke City
As Swansea City prepare to travel to Stoke City on Saturday afternoon, we take a look at six players who have represented both clubs in years gone by.
Joe Allen
Few players have a stronger connection to Swansea City and Stoke City than Joe Allen, who enjoyed successful spells with both clubs during an illustrious career.
A product of the Swans academy, Allen made his first-team debut at just 16 in 2007 and played a key role as Swansea climbed from League One to the Premier League, including featuring in the 2011 Championship play-off final victory over Reading.
Allen made 153 appearances during his first spell with the club before joining Liverpool in 2012. Four years later, he moved to Stoke City following his impressive performances for Wales at Euro 2016.
The midfielder made 221 appearances and scored 20 goals during his six seasons with the Potters, becoming club captain ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
Allen returned to Swansea in July 2022 and passed 200 appearances in Swansea colours during the 2023-24 season. He captained the Swans in his final appearance against Oxford United in May 2025, finishing his career with 231 Swansea appearances and 11 goals.
Ashley Williams
Former Swans and Wales captain Ashley Williams also represented the Potters; enjoying some of the most memorable years of his career in south Wales before later spending a season with the Potters.
Williams joined Swansea on loan from Stockport County in March 2008 and helped the club win the League One title and secure promotion to the Championship. His move was made permanent that summer, and he quickly became a key figure in the Swans' defence.
After helping Swansea reach the Premier League in 2011, Williams became the regular captain and led the side to their first major trophy, lifting the League Cup following a 5-0 victory over Bradford City at Wembley and securing European football.
He joined Everton in 2016 before returning to the Championship with Stoke City on loan in August 2018. Williams made 37 appearances for the Potters during the 2018-19 season, scoring once.
Paul Connor
Paul Connor's career saw him represent both Swansea City and Stoke City, with his time in SA1 culminating in the Swans' 2004-05 promotion success.
Connor began his professional career with Middlesbrough before joining Stoke permanently in 1999, having previously spent time on loan with the Potters.
He moved to Swansea for £35,000 in March 2004 and quickly became an influential member of the squad. Forming effective partnerships with Lee Trundle and Kevin Nugent, Connor played a key role in the Swans' promotion-winning campaign.
He scored 12 goals in 44 appearances during that season, finishing as Swansea's second-highest scorer, and ended his time at the club with 65 league appearances and 16 goals.
Josh Tymon
Josh Tymon has links to both clubs too, having spent six years with Stoke City before moving to south Wales and establishing himself as a key figure for the Swans.
Tymon joined Stoke from Hull City in July 2017 and, after loan spells with MK Dons and Famalicão, became a regular member of the Potters' squad.
He made 122 appearances for Stoke, scoring four goals and providing nine assists, before Swansea completed his signing on deadline day in September 2023.
Tymon quickly established himself as an important part of the Swans' side and has now made more than 130 appearances for the club. He was named in the Championship Team of the Season last term and also claimed the EFL's Goal of the Season award for his spectacular strike against Oxford United.
With nine Championship assists to his name last season, Tymon remains a key figure for Vítor Matos' side.
Ben Wilmot
Ben Wilmot spent just one season in south Wales, but a memorable south Wales derby winner ensured he left a lasting impression, while his move to Stoke City has seen him establish himself as a key figure and club captain.
Wilmot joined Swansea on loan from Watford in July 2019 and made his first league start in the south Wales derby against Cardiff City later that year.
The young centre-back headed home Wayne Routledge's cross in the 24th minute to secure a 1-0 victory, scoring his first goal for the Swans and instantly becoming a favourite among supporters.
Wilmot made 23 appearances for Swansea, scoring twice, before returning to Watford. He joined Stoke in June 2021 and quickly became an important member of the Potters' defence.
He was named Stoke's Player of the Year for the 2022-23 campaign and was appointed club captain for the 2025-26 season.
Wilfried Bony
Wilfried Bony enjoyed some of the most prolific years of his career with Swansea City before later spending a season on loan with Stoke.
Bony joined Swansea from Vitesse in July 2013 for a then club-record £12 million fee after finishing the previous season as the Eredivisie's top scorer with 31 goals.
He made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his competitive debut against Malmö in the Europa League, and went on to score 25 goals in all competitions during his first season. That included a memorable late header in Swansea's FA Cup victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
After scoring 20 Premier League goals in the calendar year of 2014, Bony joined Manchester City in January 2015 in a deal worth up to £28 million.
He moved to Stoke on loan in August 2016 and scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Swansea at the bet365 Stadium later that year.
Bony returned to Swansea in August 2017 and scored against Stoke in a 2-0 victory at the bet365 Stadium during the subsequent season.
Across his two spells, Bony scored 35 goals in 70 appearances for Swansea, while he netted twice in 20 appearances for Stoke.