Ethan Galbraith is set to complete his move from Swansea City to Stoke City after the Welsh club accepted an eight-figure fee for the Northern Ireland midfielder. The 25-year-old will undergo his medical on Tuesday, ending a year-long spell at the Liberty Stadium where he established himself as a reliable performer across multiple positions.

Galbraith originally joined Swansea from Leyton Orient for £1.5m and made 44 Swansea appearances, scoring four goals. Despite the club's desire to extend his contract beyond 2028, the player made it clear he would not sign a new deal. Swansea's decision to accept the offer rather than force him to stay demonstrates their pragmatic approach to player retention.

Head coach Vitor Matos had publicly praised Galbraith as a 'really important player' and expressed hopes of a decade-long stay. The midfielder's versatility, playing both in midfield and at right-back, made him a valuable squad member during his single season with the Swans.

This transfer represents a significant profit for Swansea's recruitment strategy while delivering a blow to Matos's plans for the upcoming campaign. The club will now need to identify suitable replacements for a player who featured prominently in their campaign.