Aimar Govea | I wouldn't be here without the sacrifices my family have made

Aimar Govea expressed his gratitude to everyone who has helped him on his Swansea City journey after signing his first professional contract at the club.

The 17-year-old has enjoyed a fine season making the full-time step up to the club’s under-18s’ squad, and has signed a long-term deal in SA1.

Govea, the younger brother of former Swan Jordi, had been in the second year of his scholarship with the Swans and has put pen to paper on a long-term pro deal.

“It feels great to sign my first professional contract here, a club I’ve been at for a long time,” said Govea. 

“It’s a proud moment for my family, they’ve helped me so much throughout my journey and it’s great to sign for this amazing club. 

“I want to say thank you to all of the staff that have worked with me over the years, they’ve been amazing. 

“I’ve got to start pushing even harder now, just because I’ve signed a pro deal I can’t relax, I have to keep going. 

“I’m going to take it step by step, I’m not going to rush anything but I will work as hard as I can.

"Obviously, my brother Jordi came here and I want to say thank you to him for everything he has done, he's one of my inspirations.

"These past five years, my family have done everything for me and they've kept pushing me and been my motivation.

"It's been hard, they don't speak much English, so I'm grateful they've stayed here so I can pursue my dream.

"We initially moved here so Jordi could play, I was just sitting in the house most days! I'd always loved football, so I knew I wanted to play. 

"When I first moved here, I couldn't really speak English. At first, everything was signals with my teammates, and it was very hard at the start."

A recommendation from his brother led to then 13-year-old Govea joining the Swansea Development Centre, which eventually led to a trial within the academy.

"My brother was speaking to a staff member at the academy during his time here, and I started out within the Swansea Development Centre first," said Govea.

"I got into the academy after a trial, and now I'm here!"

His pace and trickery have caught the eye of the club, and he's not the only Ecuadorian winger of those qualities to have worn a Swans shirt.

Jefferson Montero - who joined Swansea City during their Premier League stint in 2014 - went on to make 78 league appearances in SA1.

"I've spoken to Jeff before, he's a very good one v one player and he's so fast. It was great that we were at this club, he was amazing for Swansea," added Govea.

On the pitch, Govea recently helped Swansea City Under-18s reach the final of the Professional Development League Cup after a handsome 2-0 victory over Watford last week.

And the youngster has no doubts the age-grade side have what it takes to claim the silverware when the final takes place against Millwall at The Den in April.

"Hopefully, we can lift that trophy. It would be very important for us, we've got a very good team and we're altogether," he said.

"We're always smiling on the training ground, there's no doubt that we can go on and win it."

Govea also paid tribute to under-18s' assistant coach Ollie Jefferies as being of the main figures in his journey at Swansea City.

Jefferies ,who has been at the club for nearly 10 years, has been involved within the academy at all age-levels during his career in south Wales and has coached Govea at every step of his time in SA1.

"Ollie Jefferies has been someone who I've looked up to since I've joined the club. He was there at the development centres, too," added Govea.

"I've been with him the past five years, he's just such a good guy and, as a coach, he knows a lot, and I learn off him everyday.

"On and off the pitch, he's a helped me so much."