Swansea sign Finland midfielder Walta

Swansea City have signed Finland midfielder Leo Walta from Swedish club Sirius on an initial loan until the end of the season, with the deal likely to be made permanent in the summer.

The Championship club say Walta, 22, will sign for an undisclosed fee on July 1, 2026 "subject to conditions".

Though those conditions are not specified, the expectation is that the permanent transfer will happen.

Vitor Matos had made an attacking midfield player his top priority in the final stages of the mid-season window.

"We are really pleased to have Leo join Swansea City," said the Swansea head coach.

"His creativity and ability to play in small spaces, the technical level he has, will help us a lot as a team."

Walta, who was first linked with a move to Wales last summer, managed an impressive tally of 16 goals in 30 appearances in the 2025 Swedish top-flight season, having netted seven times in 2024.

"He gives us a different kind of profile in the middle of the pitch, he can contribute goals and assists, and in his position producing those sorts of numbers always helps," Matos added.

"He is versatile in terms of how he can play and contribute. He is a smart player with an ability to find the right passes and actions in the final third.

"That's what we have been trying to find, now we have him and it's about working to integrate him into the team and the squad. He was in his pre-season in Sweden, so he is a different stage and it's important we give him the time to adapt, but we are very happy he is a Swansea player."

Walta won the first of his 10 senior Finland caps in 2024 having represented his country at various age-grade levels.

He began his club career in his homeland, at HJK Helsinki, before a spell in Norway with Nordsjaelland.

Walta had loan spells with Danish club HB Koge and Mjallby in Sweden before a permanent move to Sirius in 2024.

Swansea's global head of analytics and recruitment Adam Worth said Walta has "been a top target of the club for some time".

"He provides a goal threat in advanced central positions, has excellent balance and vision, is a threat at dead-ball situations and provides a profile that we have been missing for some time," he added.

Swansea also also looked into the possibility of signing centre-back on loan before Monday's transfer deadline, but no deal materialised.

Ricardo Santos had been lined up to leave Swansea, but he is stating put and could offer Matos another defensive option.

Swansea have also signed goalkeeper Joe Collins, with the 18-year-old Irishman joining up with the club's under-21 squad.