CARDIFF, WALES - DECEMBER 01: Terriers goalkeeper Ben Hamer reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town at Cardiff City Stadium on December 01, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
According to BBC, Swansea City have signed Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Ben Hamer in an 18-month deal for an undisclosed fee.
As per the report, Swans boss Steve Cooper is on the lookout for an experienced shot-stopper to deputise for undisputed No.1 Freddie Woodman between the sticks. The Welsh outfit are keen to seek added cover in various departments as they push for automatic promotion in the Championship and Hamer could become the club’s first signing this month.
Hamer rose through the youth ranks of Reading but made only a handful of competitive appearances for the Berkshire outfit. After spending time on loan at Crawley Town in the National League, the Somerset-born goalkeeper made his mark in the Football League system during his loan spells at Brentford and Exeter City.
The 33-year-old guided Charlton Athletic to promotion in League One after joining the Addicks on a permanent deal in 2011. Hamer impressed as the club’s No.1 in the Championship over the next two seasons before joining Leicester City in the Premier League.
However, he only managed 20 appearances for the Foxes over four seasons, spending time on loan at Bristol City and Nottingham Forest in the second tier.
Hamer was offered an escape route in the Premier League by Huddersfield Town, where he largely served as the understudy to Jonas Lossl. The veteran had a productive loan spell at Derby County in the Championship last season and established himself as the club’s No.1 this term, making 15 appearances.
Swansea City’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper certainly makes a lot of sense. On-loan shot-stopper Woodman has excelled as the first-choice in goal since the start of the 2019-20 season but the Swans have minimal cover in that department.
The injury to reserve goalkeeper Steven Benda has dealt a major blow to Cooper’s squad depth heading into a hectic second half of the season. Academy graduate Lewis Webb was on the bench for Swansea’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Stevenage but the teenager is not yet deemed ready by the manager to make the step up to the Championship. (h/t BBC)
Putting things into context, Swansea City signing Ben Hamer eases squad depth issues in the goalkeeping department. While Woodman is expected to continue as the undisputed No.1, Hamer’s inclusion would ensure a much-needed experienced back-up in that position.
The 33-year-old boasts over 350 career appearances in English football, having plied his trade in all the top four divisions with varying degrees of success.
It’s a no-brainer that a seasoned campaigner like Ben Hamer would represent a more reliable back-up to Woodman than Benda or Webb. The Swans have been lacking experience between the sticks following the departures of Erwin Mulder and Kristoffer Nordveldt last year. Hamer still has a lot to offer at 33 and would offer real value to Swansea’s promotion push.