New recruit Walta 'can offer a lot' - Matos

Vitor Matos reckons Swansea City have added something different to their squad by signing attacking midfielder Leo Walta.

Finland international Walta is in contention to play some part when Swansea host Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday (12:01 GMT) after joining from Swedish club Sirius on deadline day.

Matos says Swansea may need to be patient with Walta as he adapts to life in the Championship – but believes the 22-year-old's arrival will fill a vacancy in his squad.

"We wanted to bring someone with that kind of profile, that can play between the lines, that can offer a lot in the last third," said the Swansea head coach.

"Of course [he has come] from a different league. That's the question mark sometimes, but at the same time we always try to find these kinds of profiles, [players] who understand the last third, last pass, shooting, both feet, dribbling.

"That's what Leo brings to us. It's now about us taking the best out of him."

Walta has joined Swansea initially on loan, but Matos confirmed the Welsh club expect the move to be made permanent this summer.

Former Nordsjaelland player Walta scored 17 goals in all competitions for Sirius in the 2025 Swedish season, which ended in November.

He has not played a competitive game since then, but has been involved in pre-season with his now former club.

"He's fresh that's for sure," Matos said.

"He comes from abroad and [he is] in pre-season. Of course we will all need to have that in consideration, but I think we can count on him. Let's see how we use him."

Matos says he is "really happy" with the work Swansea did in the mid-season transfer window, with Walta their third signing after Joel Ward and Gustavo Nunes.

Swansea failed in their attempts to sign a young central defender on loan before Monday's deadline, but Matos is unconcerned.

Ricardo Santos may yet come back into contention after he failed to secure a move away from Wales during the window, though Matos says the former Bolton centre-back is not currently fit.

Midfielder Melker Widell is a fitness doubt for the Owls' visit after missing last weekend's win at Watford with a muscle injury.

Matos, meanwhile, says academy product Thomas Woodward, 19, is training with the first team and could be in option between now and the end of the season following Bobby Wales' loan move to Huddersfield.