Andreas Søndergaard | I am grateful for the opportunity, I will give my all

New signing Andreas Søndergaard has vowed he will give his all to repay Swansea City for the opportunity to join the club.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper joined the Swans on a deal through to the end of the 2022-23 season last Friday, having seen a five-year spell with Wolves come to an end during the January transfer window.

His arrival provides head coach Russell Martin with cover between the sticks after Steven Benda was ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

Søndergaard, who started his career in his homeland with Odense BK and also had spells on loan with Randers and Hereford, had a whirlwind start to his time in SA1.

Having joined Friday, he immediately joined the rest of the squad for the journey to Blackburn, and was then on the bench for Saturday’s Championship clash.

The Danish youth international has settled in quickly to life in south Wales, and has his sights firmly set on making the most of his chance to impress over the rest of the season.

“It has been a crazy few days. There have been a lot of things going on, but I signed on Friday and then travelled on the same day with the squad for the game on Saturday,” he said.

“I feel like I almost didn’t really realise the situation and what was going on, just because it was really, really busy.

“I have really enjoyed it so far.

“It is an absolutely amazing city, and the people are so friendly here as well.

“I mean everyone here has just looked after me and tried to make feel welcome and at home. That has been a big help, so it has been a really enjoyable first few days.

“I cannot wait to crack on and work hard to try and get opportunities.

“I am really grateful to get this opportunity and join a big club here. It is down to me now to do whatever I can, to put it all in to every training session.

“If I give it everything I have got, hopefully I can push the other two keepers as well, and create a really strong environment.

“All I can do is take it day by day and give it all I have got. If I do that, I believe opportunities will come.”

Søndergaard has found a familiar face at Fairwood in the form of midfielder Luke Cundle, who is on loan from Wolves.

While a former Swan working at Molineux – ex-goalkeeper coach Tony Roberts – played a part in him joining his new club.

“I did not speak to them before I joined, but Tony did play a part in me coming here and I am grateful that he put a good word in for me,” said Søndergaard.

“Luke is someone I knew before I got here, but the first conversations I had with him, he only had good things to say about the club and the people.

“From the first day I walked into the building I have felt really good, everyone is so friendly – as I mentioned before – and it is just like a big family. It is great to be a part of it.”

And one aspect of the move that has particularly excited Søndergaard is the style of play at Swansea, where he will be required to be involved in build-up play with the ball at his feet.

“I had a really good conversation with the gaffer, and also with Dean Thornton the goalkeeping coach, and they were very clear when it came to how they want the team to play,” he said.

“They talked about how they want to control games with the ball, and to be dominant. I was really happy to see that because it is a great way of playing.

“I think it is a way of playing that suits me very well, I like to play out and be involved in the build up.

“It looks really good and I have enjoyed working this way so far.”