Kyle Bartley will return to Swansea City after his successful season-long loan at Leeds United.
Bartley played 50 games for Leeds this term and captained the Championship side when skipper Liam Bridcutt was absent.
But Swansea head coach Paul Clement has said the Manchester-born central defender will report to Swansea for pre-season training in early July.
Clement said: “He’s had a good season, I’ve spoken to Kyle on the telephone and said ‘well done this year’.
“It’s quite unusual for a loan player to captain the side, but from our point of view he’s a Swansea player.
“I’m looking forward to him coming back and working with him at Swansea next season.”
Leeds boss Garry Monk, who also worked with Bartley at Swansea, has made no secret that he wants to sign the 25-year-old if he extends his own Elland Road stay.
Asked if he wanted to re-sign Bartley after Leeds’ final game of the season last weekend, Monk said: “Of course. Kyle’s been tremendous this season.
“Obviously I’ve got experience with Kyle and I know him very well.
“But he’d be the first to tell you that this has been by far his best season and by far his best progression as a footballer – the best football he’s ever played.”
Bartley told the Yorkshire Evening Post after the 1-1 draw at Wigan: “I can’t say too much but what I can say is that I’ve loved every single second of this year.
“I’ve fallen in love with the players, the staff, the fans, the club. It’s been brilliant. That’s as far as I can say.”
Arsenal product Bartley joined Swansea in August 2012 b ut he has made only 12 league starts and also had a loan spell at Birmingham in that time.
