COVENTRY CITY have announced the signing of defender Jake Bidwell from fellow Sky Bet Championship club Swansea City.
Bidwell has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Sky Blues and primarily plays at left-back.
The left-sided player can also operate in midfield and played the full 90 minutes against Coventry for the Swans earlier this season.
And the 28-year-old is delighted to have made the switch to Coventry after spending the last three seasons with Swansea.
Bidwell said: “I’m delighted to be here, and I’m delighted it’s done.
“It’s happened quite quickly, I only heard of the interest last week but we managed to get it done and I’m buzzing to be here and I can’t wait to meet the lads tomorrow and getting started properly.
“It’s a massive club and anyone who knows football knows that and I think the way the Gaffer is trying to do things at the moment and the style of play is brilliant.
“I’ve played against Coventry a few times and they’ve been three tough games. They’re a club on the up and things seem to be going in the right direction.
“Fans are back in and they’re filling it out most weeks and footballing wise I think it’s a good fit for me and I think the club as a whole is going in the right direction.”
The defender becomes manager Mark Robins’ first addition during the January transfer window and will compete with Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen for the left wing-back berth.
Robins said: “We are very pleased to welcome Jake to Coventry City.
“He is an excellent defender who will get forward strongly, he has a lot of experience, having played nearly 450 games, including many at Championship level, and has a fantastic attitude too.
“Jake will add further quality to our squad at left wing-back, along with Ian Maatsen for the remainder of this season, a position in which we have not had different options.
“We look forward to working with Jake.”
Bidwell began his career with Everton, making one senior appearance during his time with the Toffees as he became the youngest player to represent the club in European competition.
He then spent two seasons on loan at Brentford before making a permanent switch to the Bees ahead of the 2013/14 season in which he helped the club achieve promotion to the Championship.
The former Brentford man departed for Queens Park Rangers in July 2016, having made 136 appearances for Brentford, where he would spend the next three seasons.
Bidwell racked up 130 games for QPR before moving on again to Championship rivals Swansea and helped the Swans reach the play-off final last season where they were beaten by his former club Brentford.
And Bidwell made 105 appearances for Swansea across two-and-a-half seasons with the Welsh side and has made just shy of 450 career appearances.
The defender’s last appearance for the Swans came in late November and he has two goals in 16 games this season, including one in the South Wales derby.
Bidwell is available to play in the Sky Blues clash with his former side QPR this Saturday, January 22 with kick-off at 3pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
