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SWANS WOMEN: Stake sold and team moved into new company — in what club calls its ‘most significant milestone’

Swansea City has sold a stake in its women’s team — with the club saying it may be “the most significant milestone” in the team’s history.

The Genero Adran Premier side, who finished third in Welsh football’s top tier last season, have been transferred to a new limited company headed by chairwoman Jenine Cravatt, with its own board of directors.

The club says the sale brings “significant immediate investment” — but the announcement leaves its biggest questions unanswered: how much was paid, what share of the team was sold, and who the investors are.

The club describes the stake as a minority holding, says the new company structure is designed to attract further outside investment, and promises detail on the wider investment group “in the near future”.

One detail the announcement does not mention: US public records list Jenine Cravatt as a trustee of the same California family trust as Brett Cravatt — one of Swansea City’s owners.

Mr Cravatt and Jason Cohen lead the American ownership group that controls the men’s Championship club, which brought the women’s team under its umbrella when the side turned semi-professional in 2023.

Ms Cravatt, a California-based entrepreneur, said it was “an incredible honour to become part of the next era” of the team, and that the investment reflected “a long-term commitment to its future”.

“My hope is that every girl in Swansea and across Wales sees Swansea City Women as a club where she belongs, where she can dream without limits, and where she believes anything is possible,” she said. “It’s her turn.”

Strengthening the “fledgling player pathway programme” is named as a priority — with the aim of a clear academy structure for young footballers in Swansea and across south Wales.

Chloe Bull, the club’s head of women’s and girls’ football, said the direct investment was “greatly welcomed” and that the new investors had “an exciting vision” for the team.

She said the side wanted to “kick on and be firmly in the mix for silverware” after making strides last season — and that the investment would help build a pathway bringing the region’s best young talent through the ranks.

Chief executive Tom Gorringe said: “It is no exaggeration to say this may be the most significant milestone in the club’s history.”

He said the sale opened up “strategic sporting and business possibilities”, adding that Swansea had historically been one of the strongest teams in Wales and the club wanted to continue “that heritage of success”.

The team — six-time champions of Welsh women’s football who have represented Wales in the Champions League — went semi-professional in 2023, when 16 players were handed contracts.

The 2025-26 campaign ended with a third-place finish in the eight-team Adran Premier.

The club says the announcement is “just the start” of its plans, with the make-up of the investment group and the longer-term vision to be set out in the coming weeks.

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SWANSEA CITY: Swans land new sporting director in summer shake-up of backroom team

Swansea City have appointed Ben Stevens as their new sporting director, the centrepiece of a summer overhaul of the club’s football operation.

Stevens joins from Crystal Palace and will start at Swansea on 10 July, based at the club’s Fairwood training ground.

He spent more than 11 years at Palace, rising through roles including head of performance and recruitment analysis to assistant sporting director.

During his time there, Palace enjoyed the most successful spell in their history, lifting the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the UEFA Conference League. Before Palace, he spent four years as head of performance analysis at Newcastle United.

Chief executive Tom Gorringe said the club had held out for the right candidate.

“As previously outlined, the club only planned on making an appointment of this nature if we felt a candidate who was the correct fit for Swansea City was available, and we firmly believe Ben possesses the qualities we were looking for,” he said.

Stevens said he believed in the project at the club and was excited to bring people together for the season ahead.

The club timed the announcement for after Palace’s season had finished, out of respect for Stevens’s former employer.

Beneath him, Swansea have confirmed two further appointments.

Pedro Pereira joins as head of goalkeeping from Red Bull Salzburg, subject to work permit and visa confirmation.

The Portuguese coach has worked with head coach Vitor Matos before, both at Salzburg and earlier at Porto, and brings more than 15 years of experience that also takes in spells at Al Sadd and Famalicao.

Jay Lefevre, who arrived as chief scout from Celtic in December 2025, has been promoted to head of recruitment and will report to Stevens.

The club said Lefevre has led its preparations for the summer window, work already visible in Swansea’s pursuit of Celtic defender Stephen Welsh.

The changes are not all arrivals. Assistant head coach Ryan Maye has left by mutual consent, with the club thanking him for his efforts and wishing him and his family well.

There has been movement among the playing squad too. Defender Ricardo Santos has joined Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee, subject to the relevant approval.

The 31-year-old links up with the League One side after a frustrating year at Swansea, where a knee injury in pre-season limited him to a single senior appearance.

The reshuffle comes as Matos prepares for his first full season in charge, having guided the Swans to an 11th-place Championship finish after taking over partway through last season.

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