Nottingham Forest can confirm Marko Stamenic has left the club, joining Swansea City on a permanent transfer.
Club statement:
Swansea City is delighted to confirm the signing of New Zealand international Marko Stamenić for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance and visa approval.
The 23-year-old joins the Swans from Nottingham Forest and will bring considerable physicality and athleticism to Alan Sheehan’s midfield.
He has signed a four-year deal, with the option for an additional year. Stamenić will wear the number six shirt and is viewed as a key acquisition for the Swans.
The long-term target follows Melker Widell, Zeidane Inoussa, Bobby Wales, Ricardo Santos, Cameron Burgess, Ethan Galbraith, Kaelan Casey, Paul Farman and Malick Yalcouye through the arrivals door in SA1 this summer.
Stamenić boasts top-flight experience in Denmark, Serbia and Greece - winning league and cup doubles in all three countries, and has featured in the Champions League and Europa League.
He also has a World Cup to look forward to next summer having helped New Zealand qualify for the 2026 finals in the United States.
Of Serbian and Samoan descent, the Wellington-born midfielder made the move to Europe from his homeland with Danish club FC Copenhagen in 2020 when aged just 18.
He spent three years on their books – including a loan spell with HB Koge – before moving to Red Star Belgrade in 2023.
Stamenić’s move to Forest followed in 2024, and he spent last season on loan with Greek giants Olympiacos.
Head coach Alan Sheehan, said: “Marko is an excellent player, one who has been on our radar for some time, and he will bring us different attributes in our midfield with his physicality and athleticism.
“He was clear in his desire to be part of what we are building at Swansea City, and we believe his character will make him a really good fit for this group.
“We want to be an adaptable team that is on the front foot with and without the ball at all times, and Marko will help us to do that.”
Director of football Richard Montague, said: “Marko provides us with a different profile in terms of our midfield options, and his physicality and ability on the ball mean we believe he has the attributes to be highly effective in the Championship.
“His arrival strengthens an already robust midfield unit, and will allow us to play with the relentless energy and adaptability that we want to be hallmarks of our team.”
Global head of analytics and recruitment Adam Worth, added: “As a recruitment team we’d identified adding a level of physicality and technical ability to our midfield as an area of need, and Marko is an exciting addition.
“Alan has spoken of the need to be tactically adaptable, and we believe adding Marko to the options we already have at our disposal will only add to our flexibility and versatility in the middle of the pitch.”