Sil Swinkels was unveiled as Sheffield Wednesday’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window last week.
Defender Sil Swinkels is relishing the competition for a place in the starting XI this season following his move to Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls, who are heading to St George’s Park for a training camp this week, unveiled Swinkels as their fourth signing of the summer transfer window last Thursday after signing him for an undisclosed fee from Aston Villa. He has signed a three-year deal.
Swinkels, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Chesterfield, is the Owls’ second centre-back signing of the summer, following the earlier arrival of Ricardo Santos from Swansea City.
Wednesday have also tied Liam Cooper and Max Lowe down to new contracts recently, meaning they are in good shape at the back heading into the forthcoming campaign. Yan Valery, Liam Palmer, Di’Shon Bernard, Gabriel Otegbayo, Ernie Weaver, Cole McGhee, Joe Emery, Santos, Swinkels, Cooper and Lowe are all capable of playing at centre-back.
However, it remains to be seen if manager Henrik Pedersen will ditch a three-at-the-back formation this season and move to a four-man defence instead, meaning the likes of Valery, who is likely to leave Hillsborough this summer, Palmer and Lowe would be considered as full-back options.
Nevertheless, the Dane, as things stand, has plenty of options to choose from at centre-back. According to Swinkels, though, that is only a good thing.
“I think if you join a team like Sheffield Wednesday, and we all know the ambition of where the club wants to get to, I think it is natural that you are going to have competition for places,” Swinkels told the club’s in-house media.
“I think it’s a healthy environment to be in, and I am sure all the lads will be up for it.”
Swinkels’ move to Hillsborough has brought his six-year spell at Villa to an end. He has been out on loan on three occasions since the start of 2025, spending time with Bristol Rovers, Exeter City and most recently Chesterfield, meaning he is well-versed in League One and League Two.
He made 24 appearances for the Spireites in the second half of last term, helping them reach the League Two play-offs. He is now keen to prove his worth in League One again after previously representing Bristol Rovers and Exeter at this level.
Swinkels added: “I have had three loans in the last 18 months. I enjoyed Chesterfield, so I know the area a little bit. I went there in January and played every minute, I think, since January 4.
“I very much enjoyed it and I feel fit coming off the back of that. I’m feeling confident in my abilities and physicality as well. I am just hoping to do the same in League One now.”
