Ricardo Santos | Croeso i Abertawe

Ricardo Santos is hungry and motivated to make the most of his Championship opportunity after agreeing to join Swansea City.

The 29-year-old defender will become a Swans player on July 1, after putting pen to paper on a two-year contract at the Swansea.com Stadium.

He becomes the third signing of the summer, and will be the fourth new player reporting for duty when pre-season gets under way with Zeidane Inoussa, Bobby Wales and Melker Widell already added to the Swansea ranks.

Santos will bolster head coach Alan Sheehan’s defensive options, providing valuable experience and competition for places.

He joins with well over 200 EFL appearances to his name, and his consistency has been him named in the EFL team of the year for the division he has played in over four of the last five seasons.

This will be Santos’ first experience of the Championship, and he cannot wait to get started.

“I’m highly motivated,” he said.

“This will be a different test, a harder test, and I will push to be at my best.

“I had options to stay in League One, but I’ve come here to test myself and get the best out of myself, the gaffer is someone that can do that and I can’t wait to get started. 

“I like to think that I’m someone you would want to have in your changing room. I’m full of energy and always a character that you can look up to.  

“My leadership skills and experience can hopefully encourage the group and give some positivity around the building. 

“The club has a history, it’s a massive club and a club that was in the Premier League. They have high ambitions and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Santos also revealed how positive discussions with Sheehan played a part in his decision to join the club, with the centre-back having been impressed by the manner in which the Swans rounded off the 2024-25 season by claiming 17 points from their final eight games.

“I was looking at how the Swans finished last season and it was strong," he said.

“Hopefully, we can bring that into the beginning of the season and start off where we left off.

"I had good talks with Sheez and the people at the club, I briefly played with him when I was a young guy, and he was really good with me.

"When I spoke to him I felt he could get the best out of me in what is going to be a new challenge, I am happy to be here and work with him."