Having spent the second half of the season on loan with Eredivise side SC Heerenveen, it is unknown whether defender Nathan Tjoe-A-On is in Swansea City’s future plans.
Having been signed by former manager Michael Duff last summer, the left-sided defender is still yet to appear for the Swans at a senior level despite being signed for a reported £300,000 fee. Given he was loaned out from January, his signing potentially doesn’t represent a great deal of business by the club.
However at 22, he does still have potential but looks to be out of favour under new manager Luke Williams who would’ve no doubt had a say in the Indonesian international making a move to the Netherlands in January.
During his loan to Heerenveen, Tjoe-A-On didn’t exactly show a lot but then again he received very few opportunities. His stay in the Eredivise, would yield zero starts and just four substitute appearances.
He’s now reaching a tricky point of his career after failing to build on the initial potential that he’d shown at Excelsior Rotterdam which prompted his move to Swansea in the first place. The defender is however contracted with the Welsh outfit until the summer of 2026, so does have at least have some stability.
It may now be likely that Tjoe-A-On leaves the the Swansea.com Stadium this summer, and Transferwatchnl have reported that FC Emmen are interested in the Indonesian international.
Emmen play in the Dutch second tier, so it would be a step down for the defender but at this point in his career it may be one that he needs to make in order to get his confidence back. It is unknown whether the Dutch outfit want to take him on a loan or a permanent but given he is contracted until 2026, the former may be the likelier.
A good loan move next term may allow Tjoe-A-On to get closer to the first team, as he currently he seems a long way from it.
Writer’s View
If last season was anything to go off of, then the signing of Tjoe-A-On was a pretty poor one. Not making a single appearance for the club as well as just four for Heerenveen in the Eredivise, things have not worked out well for the defender since his move.
Nonetheless he is just 22 still and maybe it’s just taking some time for him to settle in. He does however have a fair bit to live up to given the hefty price that Swansea paid for his services last summer.
A loan move could well be best at least for the first half of the season, with the Indonesian needing to get his confidence back.
Senior Editor
