Swansea City complete loan move for Harrison Ashby

Swansea City has reached an agreement to loan Harrison Ashby from Newcastle United for the 2023-24 season, subject to international clearance.

The 21-year-old defender becomes the Swans' sixth signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Josh Ginnelly, Josh Key, Jerry Yates, Carl Rushworth and Mykola Kuharevich.

Ashby will wear the number 30 shirt for the Swans, and is eligible to make his debut in Saturday's Championship opener against Birmingham City.

The Scottish age-grade international – who was born in Milton Keynes – started his career in the youth ranks at Chelsea, before moving to West Ham.

Ashby, a right-back, spent more than 12 years with the Hammers, signing a first professional deal in the summer of 2020.

Having appeared for the club’s under-21s in the EFL Trophy, he made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup clash against Charlton in September 2020.

He made six further first-team appearances, including a Premier League debut against Arsenal in December 2021, and a Europa League outing against Dinamo Zagreb the next month.

Ashby joined Newcastle in January 2023, but a hamstring injury limited his opportunities over the remainder of the season at a club where he has been identified as a long-term successor to Kieran Trippier.

And Swans head coach Michael Duff revealed the glowing reference England international Trippier had given him on his Newcastle teammate.

“Harrison is a good player. I know Newcastle have spent a lot of money, but Dan Ashworth (Newcastle sporting director) does not sign bad players," he said.

“I also know Kieran Trippier really well. He was really positive in terms of the character reference he gave me.

“I was keen to get it done for Harrison to join me at my last club. We think he is a really good player and a powerful player.

“First and foremost he is a good defender, but one who can also get in the final third and deliver good crosses too.

“He wants to get out there, and play lots of games.”