Swansea Official Site
Swans agree terms with LopezSwansea City have agreed personal terms with Uefa Cup winner Jordi Lopez and aim to complete the deal in time for the midfielder to join the squad on their pre-season tour to Spain next week.
Lopez has been at the top of manager Paulo Sousa's shopping list since taking over at the Liberty Stadium helm last month.
The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Sevilla midfielder played under Sousa at QPR on a three-month contract last season after parting company with Real Mallorca.
Lopez, who made no secret of the fact that he would love to team up with the Portuguese legend again, will arrive in Swansea over the weekend to put the finishing touches to a proposed two-year contract.
jordi lopez
Jordi Lopez (left) challenges Bussy at QPR last season
"Jordi is due to have a medical on Monday with a view to completing the deal and flying to Spain with the squad on Tuesday for a week-long training camp,'' confirmed Swans chairman Huw Jenkins.
López began his career in the successful Barcelona and Real Madrid B squads.
After featuring twice for Madrid's first team in the 2003/04 campaign, he moved to Sevilla where he won the UEFA Cup.
In total, López made 37 starts for Sevilla, before moving to Real Mallorca in 2006. He went on to make 24 appearances for Mallorca before being loaned out to Racing Santander.
During his time at the Estadio El Sardinero, López helped the Racinguistas achieve their first-ever UEFA Cup qualification.
He teamed up with Sousa at the end of last season at QPR where he made 10 appearances and scored one goal in a short but impressive spell.
www.swanseacity.net/page/Latest/0,,10354~1723713,00.html
Swansea City sign Jordi LopezJul 16 2009 by Blair Wood, Western Mail
PAULO SOUSA has made his first signing as Swansea City manager, recruiting highly-rated former Real Madrid star Jordi Lopez.The Spanish midfielder, who also won the Uefa Cup with Sevilla in 2006, has agreed a two-year deal with the Swans.
He will join on a free transfer after rejecting a contract extension with QPR earlier this month.Lopez, who spent time with the Swans during their training camp in Portugal last week, will arrive in Wales tomorrow.
“Jordi is due to have a medical on Monday with a view to completing the deal and flying with the squad to Spain on Tuesday for a week-long training camp,’’ confirmed Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins.Sousa, who signed Lopez during his time in charge of Rangers, is a big admirer of the talented 28-year-old.
And, having brought the Spaniard over to London on a short-term contract following his release from Real Mallorca in December, the Portuguese immediately made him his top transfer target when taking charge at the Liberty Stadium last month.
The Swans fought off competition from two unnamed Championship rivals to secure Lopez’s signature. And, providing everything goes smoothly next week, it will represent an impressive coup for Sousa.
Having come through the legendary Barcelona academy, Lopez joined Real Madrid in 2002. He went on to make two appearances for Real’s first team before joining Sevilla in 2004.
The skilful midfielder was an integral part of Juande Ramos’ Uefa Cup-winning team before moving to Mallorca the following season. He was with the Barralets for two years before being picked up by Sousa at QPR.
As well as being significant in its own right, Lopez’s arrival will also go some way to compensating for the anticipated loss of midfield talisman Ferrie Bodde.
With last year’s player of the season Jordi Gomez already joining former manager Roberto Martinez at Wigan, the talented Dutchman has been heavily linked with a big-money move to Bolton.
Trotters manager Gary Megson has already had two bids, the second in the region £3.5m, rejected. But, with Swansea holding out for £5m, he hinted a deal could be finalised in the next few days.
While Bodde’s future is still up in the air, last season’s top scorer Jason Scotland has now been confirmed as Martinez’s latest recruit at Wigan. With a £2m fee agreed, the Trinidad and Tobago international has agreed terms with the Latics, passed a medical and been granted a work permit......"
www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/swansea-city-fc/2009/07/16/swansea-city-sign-jordi-lopez-91466-24164272/
