Nathan Wood seals Swansea City transfer

Swansea City has completed the signing of defender Nathan Wood from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.

The 20-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal, which includes the option for an additional 12 months, and becomes head coach Russell Martin’s first signing of the summer transfer window.

Wood – who will wear the number 23 shirt - will bolster Swansea’s defensive options ahead of the 2022-23 season, and will join up with his new team-mates when they return for pre-season training next week.

Wood, the son of former Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace left-back Dean Gordon, is renowned for his composure in possession and athleticism, and also brings a physical presence Martin had been keen to add to his squad.

An accomplished athlete – Wood was once ranked in the British top 10 for his age group in the high jump – the defender joined the Middlesbrough academy set-up in 2015.

Wood made his senior debut for Boro as a substitute in a 2018 Carabao Cup clash with Notts County – becoming the Teessiders’ youngest-ever player at 16 years and 75 days - before starting the subsequent ties against Rochdale and Preston.

He made his Championship bow the following term, and he saw more regular first-team action during the first half of the 2020-21 campaign before making a loan move to Crewe where he garnered more valuable experience.

Last term he made two more cup appearances for Middlesbrough, as well as a solitary outing on loan at Hibernian.

Wood has represented England at age-grade level, and skippered the under-17s to a place in the 2019 European Championships.