Swansea signs De Guzman on loan

Swansea signs De Guzman on loan

Published Jul. 10, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

Swansea City have signed attacking midfielder Jonathan de Guzman on a season-long loan from Villarreal.

Earlier on Tuesday, Swans manager Michael Laudrup made Genoa defender Chico the first addition to his squad since succeeding Brendan Rodgers and he has now added former Holland Under-21 international De Guzman ahead of the Swans' second Premier League campaign.

Both players previously worked with Laudrup at Mallorca and De Guzman is looking forward to being re-acquainted with the Dane at the Liberty Stadium.

He told the club's official website: "Once the opportunity came along to join Swansea and Michael Laudrup, it was a done deal. I didn't have to think twice about it."

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De Guzman added: "I watched Premier League football every week on the TV last season. I was aware that Swansea are a good footballing side, but they really caught my eye when they beat Manchester City.

"They had a great season and I am really looking forward to the challenge of playing on a new (stage) in the Premier League.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity and grateful that the manager has acknowledged me as a player."

The Canadian-born playmaker moved to Holland to join the Feyenoord academy and went on to make over 100 appearances for the Rotterdam club.

He also featured for the Dutch Under-21 side and played at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

He moved to Mallorca in 2010 and was then sold to Villarreal for around £7million in August of last year.

But he found opportunities hard to come by after a change of manager as the club were relegated from the Primera Division.

There is an option for the deal to be made permanent at the end of the season and De Guzman is looking forward to having more game time with his new club.

He said: "I didn't get much game time when the new coach came in. It was a frustrating time for me. I just want to play football on a regular basis again.

"I am fortunate that I will be working under a good coach at Swansea who lets you be free and allows you to do what you do best.

"I like to attack as a midfielder, box to box, and hopefully I can add my share of goals along the way."

Meanwhile, Laudrup has also added Oscar Garcia to his backroom staff as fitness and conditioning coach.

Garcia, who worked with Laudrup at Getafe and Spartak Moscow, joins from Monaco.

He succeeds Glen Driscoll, who moved to Anfield with Rodgers.

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