By Paul Jones
Swansea City captain Matt Grimes is reportedly due to have a medical at Coventry City on Thursday, with a view to completing a move suggested to be worth £3m to £4m.
The switch will be a huge blow to Swans supporters and further evidence the January transfer window is like kryptonite to the club every year – draining their strength and self-belief.
Grimes is not just the club’s best player, he is also their most influential and consistent performer and the one individual around which almost their entire style of play is structured.
But the clubs are said to have reached a full agreement on a transfer fee for the 29-year-old.
Grimes has been the cornerstone of Swansea’s squad for nearly a decade, but is understood to have finalised personal terms with the Sky Blues, marking the first major signing of Frank Lampard’s tenure at Coventry.
Matt Grimes this season: (Championship rank)
▪️Touches: 2887 (1st)
▪️Touches in the middle third: 1765 (1st)
▪️Carrying distance: 8855 yards (1st)
▪️Carries: 1818 (1st)
▪️Passes received: 2176 (1st)
▪️Passes completed: 2349 (1st)
▪️Passes into the final third: 248 (1st) pic.twitter.com/ZNLOBf6u9I— JLA (@JLA_FC) January 29, 2025
Grimes, who signed a new contract with the Swans as recently as last August, has been a consistent presence, making 333 appearances and netting 16 goals since his arrival from Exeter City in 2014.
This season, he has been ever-present under head coach Luke Williams, starting all 32 matches across all competitions.
For Swansea supporters, the departure of their highest-paid player and club captain increases the urgency to secure reinforcements before the transfer window closes and will prompt further fears of a looming battle to avoid relegation to League One.
However, with Coventry actively seeking to bolster their midfield, Grimes has expressed his desire to make the switch to the CBS Arena, prompting Swansea to greenlight the move.
The deal, reportedly worth up to £4 million including add-ons, represents a significant coup for Coventry as they aim to climb the Championship table.
Currently sitting 12th, four points ahead of Swansea, the Sky Blues have been in strong form, winning three consecutive league games. Grimes’ arrival is expected to further strengthen their push for a playoff spot.
Grimes bid an emotional farewell to his Swansea teammates at the club’s training ground on Tuesday, with the transfer expected to be finalised later this week.
However, it remains uncertain whether he will be registered in time to face his former club when Coventry travel to Swansea for a league clash on Saturday.
The move underscores Coventry’s ambition under Lampard, who has identified Grimes as a key target to enhance his squad’s depth and quality.
Grimes’ consistent performances since Swansea’s relegation from the Premier League in 2018 have made him a fan favorite, but his decision to seek a new challenge signals a turning point for both clubs as they navigate the second half of the Championship season.
