**Swansea City Release Full Retained and Released List as Dozen Players Set to Depart**
Swansea City have formally announced their retained list ahead of the new season, confirming the exit of 12 players as part of a significant summer shake-up at the club. This update, released on 16 May 2025, marks the end of an era for a number of familiar names, with several first-team and academy players now preparing to leave the Swansea.com Stadium.
Among the most notable departures are senior players Kyle Naughton, Joe Allen, Kristian Pedersen, Cyrus Christie and Jon McLaughlin. Allen, who enjoyed a storied career at both club and international level with Wales, recently made the decision to retire from professional football despite being offered a one-year contract extension. Naughton, Pedersen, Christie and McLaughlin will move on after their contracts were not renewed, signalling the close of their chapters with the Swans.
The club have also seen the departure of loanees Lewis O’Brien, Myles Peart-Harris and Hannes Delcroix, all of whom have returned to their parent clubs following the conclusion of their loan spells in South Wales. Their services provided valuable depth throughout the campaign, and Swansea will need to look elsewhere to fill the gaps as preparations begin for the coming season.
Of the current squad, the club have moved to retain the versatile defender Harry Darling by offering him a new contract. However, his future is far from certain, with multiple clubs including Birmingham City and Wrexham reportedly showing interest in his signature. Swansea supporters will be keenly awaiting news as discussions progress.
In a boost for the club’s youth and development system, midfielder Cameron Congreve will remain on the books, with the Swans exercising an option to extend his contract until the summer of 2026. Congreve impressed during a season-long loan at Bromley, and his continued presence may signal the club’s ongoing commitment to developing homegrown talent.
Meanwhile, in a busy summer of changes for Swansea’s academy, several young prospects have also been offered new deals. Defender Jack Fanning is among those offered a contract extension, while scholars Callum Deacon, Josh Pescatore, Ramon Rees-Siso and Thomas Searle have each received the opportunity to sign professional terms for the first time. The club clearly values nurturing future stars through its ranks.
Nevertheless, there are also a number of departures from the development sides. Players including Richard Faakye, Sammy Henia-Kamau, Ben Hughes, Aidan Higgins, Kiel Higginson, Sam Seager and Osian Williams will all be leaving Swansea this summer. Additionally, Maliq Cadogan departs following the mutual termination of his contract, drawing his time at the club to a close.
The retained list released by Swansea features a number of established first-team players, such as Ben Cabango, Ollie Cooper, Liam Cullen, Jay Fulton, Josh Key, Joel Cotterill and Jerry Yates, as well as a host of younger names and prospects hoping to push for greater roles next season.
This period of transition at Swansea City will undoubtedly spark debates among supporters, with much of the attention focused on how the club will replace the experience lost in key areas and whether the youthful energy promoted from within can help secure a successful campaign in the coming year. The decisions taken now could prove pivotal for the Swans’ hopes, both in the short and long term.
As pre-season approaches, the club’s supporters will look forward to official updates on incoming transfers and contract renewals, eager to see how the next squad takes shape under the guidance of the coaching staff. The summer months will provide the clearest indication yet of Swansea’s ambition and the path they will carve in a highly competitive league.