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Transfer News: Ethan Laird leaves Manchester United to join Swansea City on loan
The official club website has confirmed that Manchester United have sent Ethan Laird on loan to Swansea City for the 2021/22 season.
The Championship side is managed by Russell Martin, who was also the manager at MK Dons during the last campaign. And that is, of course, where the 20-year-old was on loan for the previous season, making 26 appearances during that time.
Laird, a graduate of the United academy, has been at the club for a decade and is understandably headed out for a temporary spell to gain some important playing time.
The right-back has just two appearances for the senior United squad and it would have been tough for him to get game-time this season. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the club’s first-choice defender down that side.
Laird off to Swansea
On top of that, both Diogo Dalot and Brandon Williams can play down that side and Victor Lindelof, the Swedish international who impressed against Leeds United in the 5-1 opening day win, can also deputize there if called upon.
Laird is excited for the season ahead of him at the Welsh side. Speaking for the Swans’ official website (h/t Manchester Evening News), he expressed his feelings at signing for the Championship outfit who have played in the PL as recently as 2018.
“I am buzzing, I cannot wait to get started and get out on the pitch,” he told the Swansea website. This is a big club, a very big club, and the type of club I want to play for. I played here once before at the stadium when I was 16 (for Manchester United Under-23s) and I really enjoyed it.”
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Swansea have started this season in poor form with no wins in the league but showed their class against Reading in their 2-0 Carabao Cup win. Hopefully, Laird can get regular game-time before he returns to United next summer.
