By Paul Jones
New Swansea City signing Nathan Tjoe-A-On has revealed he consulted former Swans star and fellow Dutchman Jonathan de Guzman before making his move to South Wales.
Tjoe-A-On has completed a move from Eredivisie club Excelsior for a reported fee £300,000 and is expected to compete with Josh Key for the left-back spot.
De Guzman was one the bright lights of the Swans side that earned a top 10 Premier League finish a decade ago and also won the League Cup.
Swansea City have signed Excelsior left-back Nathan Tjoe-A-On on a three-year deal for a fee thought to be close to £300,000.
Boss Michael Duff wanted to strengthen on the left following Ryan Manning’s move to Southampton in the summer ⚽️#BBCFootball
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 14, 2023
He also played for the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup.
“Obviously, when the club was in the Premier League I was able to watch a lot in the Netherlands,” said Tjoe-A-On, who is of Indonesian and Surinamese heritage.
“But I also talked with one player from the Netherlands who played here, and that was Jonathan de Guzman.
“He told me the people are really nice, that it’s a really good club and a nice stadium, so it was good to hear that from someone like him
“It’s great for a player like me because I am still young, I want to learn a lot and I feel this is the right place for me.
“I’m a left-back. I’ve played with four and five at the back. I think I have a lot of power going forward and defensively also. I feel good on the ball and I like to play football.
“I just want to improve here. I like the physical side of the game too, and English football is famous for that, so I think it’s a good competition for me.”
Michael Duff admitted the overriding emotion was frustration after Swansea City’s late fightback fell short.
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) August 12, 2023
Tjoe-A-On. 21, made 29 league appearances for Excelsior last season, scoring one goal and could now make his Swansea debut at home to Coventry City in the Championship on Saturday.
The Swans are still looking for their first league win of the season after losing 3-2 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The Baggies looked in control at 3-0 up following Semi Ajayi’s 18th-minute volley, an own goal by Swansea goalkeeper Carl Rushworth early in the second half and John Swift’s penalty.
However, the Swans mounted a late rally with a bullet header from defender Harry Darling and Nathan Wood to set up a tense final 10 minutes.
Swansea head coach Michale Duff admitted: “It was frustrating because we waited until we were 3-0 down before we started playing with any purpose.
“We were too slow and too passive in the first half and never played with any intensity – balls coming into our box, they headed them, we didn’t.
“We went 3-0 down and it kicked us into life. We started heading those balls because we were angry and we started moving the ball quicker and with intensity and purpose, then we looked like a good team.
“If I thought we were useless and deserved to get beaten 3-0 or 4-0 I would say so, but the first half-hour and the last half-hour, it’s night and day.
“We need to start with that tempo. We need to speed it up a bit at times.”
West Brom 3-2 Swansea City
Baggies pick up first win of the season
Click here to watch – https://t.co/YNFV0RsFpG
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— Will Burford (@willburford11) August 12, 2023
