Swindon Town have bolstered their squad with the permanent signings of goalkeeper Jack Bycroft and ex-Liverpool striker Paul Glatzel.
The pair become the second and third incoming for the club this window, after midfielder Dawson Devoy joined on a loan from fellow League Two side MK Dons.
Bycroft joins on a permanent basis from Southampton, as the Robins look to replace Murphy Mahoney, who returned to parent club Queens Park Rangers following a long-term injury.
A boyhood Swindon fan, the 22-year-old graduated at Saints but found himself on a series of loans to Oxford City, Aldershot Town and Taunton Town. His time with the Peacocks saw him record 19 clean sheets and a place in the National League South Team of the Season.
Speaking to the club, the keeper said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic as you can see, I’m buzzing to get it over the line and looking forward to get going.
“I can’t wait, the club means a hell of a lot to me and my family. Especially at this level, I’ve been waiting to get a stage to prove myself, and this is the right one.”
Both new arrivals are youth internationals, with Bycroft playing for the England U19s, whilst Glatzel played both for the Young Lions and for Germany’s Under-18 squad.
The Liverpool striker came through at the Merseyside club’s academy but did not record a single appearance for the senior team. He captained his side to an FA Youth Cup victory in 2018/19.
Also 22 years old, the striker has previous League Two experience, going on two loans to Tranmere Rovers, where he has scored four goals in 17 appearances.
Glatzel arrives on a permanent basis, becoming Michael Flynn’s first attacking addition since the losses of Dan Kemp and Jake Young after their loans from MK Dons and Bradford City ended respectively.
Writer’s View
Swindon have dove into the market to pick up players in two positions they desperately needed to fill. The loss of Murphy Mahoney left the Robins without a first-choice goalkeeper, so signing a player who understands the club in Jack Bycroft will plug that hole. A two-league jump is tall though, meaning both he and Lewis Ward will be in a battle to make their case to start matches.
The Wiltshire club have had the unenviable task of replacing both Dan Kemp and Jake Young. Michael Flynn has made his first move in doing that with the permanent signing of Paul Glatzel, perhaps realising that losing loan players through recalls is not worth risking again. The German brings some league experience to the County Ground with him, and fans will hope he can rediscover his prolific striking record from his academy days.
1st Class Honours in Multimedia Journalism at Salford University. Writing mainly about League Two.
