Bony completes Al-Arabi loan

Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony has joined Qatar club Al-Arabi on loan for the rest of the season, subject to international clearance.

Bony, who sees his Swans contract expire this summer, will spend the remainder of the current campaign with the Doha-based club after finalising his move today.

The 30-year-old has scored once in seven appearances this season, with Bony’s game-time scuppered after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Leicester City last February.

Bony returned to the Liberty Stadium for a second spell after rejoining from Manchester City on transfer deadline day in August 2017.

The striker had scored 34 goals in 70 games for the Swans during his previous stint in SA1, which included a best finish and points total in the Premier League during the 2014-15 campaign.

He would score 10 goals in 46 appearances – just 20 of which were starts – at the Etihad Stadium, two of which came in two reunions with the Swans.

Pep Guardiola’s appointment as City boss saw Bony leave for Stoke, where he spent the 2016-17 season on loan.

The powerhouse forward’s time in the Potteries saw him start only nine league games in Stoke colours.

He scored two goals for the Staffordshire club, both of which came against the Swans, making it four strikes in three appearances against his former employers.

The Ivorian joins up with an Al-Arabi side who sit sixth in the 12-team Qatar Stars League.

The Swans have a few connections with Al-Arabi, with former boss Colin Addison having won the league title in Qatar in 1993 while Pablo Hernandez left the Liberty for the Grand Hamad Stadium in 2014.

Everyone at Swansea City would like to thank Wilfried for his service to the club over his two spells, and wish him well in his new challenge.