Eighteen year old Joel Cotterill has signed a new deal at the Swans which means he will be at the club until at least 2026. That’s great news for Joel who has seen first team football last season in the league cup. More importantly this will reassure him his future is secure at the Swansea.Com Stadium.

Joel prefers an attacking midfield role and has excelled for the academy this past season earning him the academy player of the year award. He has also had first team match day experience on the bench on a handful of occasions over two seasons. Having been at the club since he was seven Cotterill joins Cameron Congreve in competition for future places in the Swans midfield.

These are crucial times for both players as many Swans academy prospects have found themselves out of luck when competing for first team places. Aaron Lewis now at Newport County is a prime example, he also joined the Swansea aged nine but found it difficult to acclimatised at the highest level. When we say the highest level we do mean the premier league and players like Harris would have found it exceptionally difficult to get first team places at that time. Another example is Ryan Hedges who also struggled at the same time but is now excelling at Blackburn Rovers. Hedges surprisingly overlooked by Rob Page in his Wales squad selections.

Cotterill’s cousin David also played for the Swans.

The academy have turned out a large number of Wales internationals over the past five years and are now also supplying players to Wales at all age grades. The hardest part is now ahead of Cotterill. It’s time for even more hard work, discipline and commitment. Yes, all the stuff that has got him where he is today.

Well done Joel.

Photograph with permission Swansea City AFC

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