Carl Rushworth | This is a challenge I am ready to thrive off

Carl Rushworth wants to thrive off the challenge of competing in the hurly burly of the Championship after the goalkeeper completed his loan move from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 22-year-old has sealed a switch to the Swansea.com Stadium for the 2023-24 season, subject to international clearance, and will be in contention for the opening Championship fixture of the campaign against Birmingham City.

Rushworth – an England Under-21 international who was part of the squad that recently won the European Championship – started his senior career with hometown club Halifax before making the move to Brighton in 2018.

He has since had loan spells with Worthing, Walsall and Lincoln City, making 85 EFL appearances over his stints with the latter two clubs.

His time with the Imps saw him keep 19 clean sheets in 42 league appearances.

He joins the Swans after being part of Brighton's squad for the Premier League Summer Series in the United States, and will wear the number 22 shirt in SA1.

And he cannot wait to get started with Michael Duff’s Swans.

“I think the Championship is the toughest it’s been for a long time with the teams it’s got in it, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“I’m expecting it to be tough. There’s never an easy game, just like there isn’t one in League One or League Two.

“I’m just going to thrive off the challenge and experience of playing some of these games against some of these teams, and I’m really looking forward to it and pushing myself because I feel this is the next challenge I need in my career.

“As a squad I think we want to be pushing to be as high as we can. I think that’s going to be on everyone’s mind and we’re going to be working together to achieve that.

“Personally, I want to stay fit for the season, play as many games as I can and beat my clean sheet record that I got last season.

“I’m buzzing for the start of the season. I’ve been waiting for it to come around ever since I heard Swansea were interested. I can’t wait to get started.”

Rushworth is also excited by the prospect of working with Swansea head of goalkeeping Martyn Margetson, who also works as the goalkeeping coach with the England national team.

Margetson’s extensive coaching career has included spells with a number of Premier League clubs, and being part of Wales’ unforgettable run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, and Rushworth is eager to hone his game working with one of the most respected coaches around.

“I’m buzzing to get it done. After speaking with Marge I just wanted to be here and get in the building,” he added.

“I think it’s the perfect club for my progression. I think taking the next step up into the Championship is what I needed.

“After speaking with Marge from the start, with the experience he’s got and the amount of games I hope to play this season, it’s a no-brainer really.

“There’re so many positives it would be foolish of me to turn it down.

“For me to be in Marge’s eyeline every single day, he’ll be giving me all the advice he can give me.

“I think it’s going to be very beneficial for my career as well to have the England senior goalkeeping coach working with me.”