Tom Iorpenda | This is the perfect move for me in my development

Tom Iorpenda says he is relishing his Championship chance at Swansea City and believes his move to SA1 is the perfect next step in his career.

The 21-year-old has joined the Swans from Huddersfield Town on a three-year deal, which includes the option for an additional 12 months.

He becomes the ninth acquisition of the summer transfer window, further strengthening Vitor Matos’ midfield options, and will wear the number 16 shirt at Swansea.com Stadium.

Iorpenda could make his Swansea debut in Tuesday’s Championship clash with Watford, and the midfielder is excited to get started in south Wales as he returns to the second tier after making a couple of appearances in the division with the Terriers.

“I’m really excited to the join the club. It’s a great opportunity,” he said.

“Speaking to people who have been at the club before and know about the club, they speak so highly about the place. 

"Also speaking with some of the players and the hierarchy here, It felt like the perfect club that would suit me.

"It’s definitely going to be a big step up [playing in the Championship] but I think I have all the right people around me to help me. 

"The Championship is full of big names, big players and I’m looking forward to testing myself."

Iorpenda came through the academy at Brighton & Hove Albion before joining Huddersfield in 2022, and went on to make his senior debut against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

He made 15 appearances for the Terriers before spending last season on loan with Notts County, where he enjoyed a breakthrough campaign.

The experience of facing the former Premier League champions had already given him a taste of playing against some of the biggest names in the game, and he admits it was a surreal moment.

“It was amazing. Playing against some of the players I grew up playing with on FIFA was mad, so to be on the pitch with them was crazy,” he recalled.

“Even now it still hasn’t sunk in that you were on the pitch with players of that calibre. As a player that’s the goal to be alongside them more often and I want to keep playing against similar players in the future.”

Iorpenda featured 53 times for Notts County last term, scoring three goals as they secured promotion to League One through the play-offs at Wembley.

His performances were recognised at the end of the campaign, with Iorpenda receiving both the Fans’ Player of the Season award and the Players’ Player of the Season accolade at Meadow Lane.

And he hopes to carry that form into his new challenge with the Swans.

“I feel like I developed loads last season, both as a player and as a person,” he added. 

"I met many amazing people and I’m very grateful for the opportunity I had there and I’m hoping something similar can happen here.

“For me, it’s just about getting better everyday, keep on improving myself and I think this is the right place for me to do that.”