Harry Darling: Swansea City defender leaves club as contract expires

Harry Darling will leave Swansea City after turning down a new contract at the Championship club.

Darling, 25, is believed to have attracted interest from a string of second-tier clubs including Norwich City, Birmingham City, Wrexham and Sheffield United.

The defender has also been linked with Rangers after they appointed former Swansea head coach Russell Martin as their new boss, but it is the Canaries who appear favourites to clinch a deal as things stand.

Swansea had been to keep Darling and made what they called “a very strong offer” to the former MK Dons player.

Luka Modric, the Swansea co-owner, is believed to have contacted Darling in a bid to convince him to stay, though the club always feared the centre-back may walk away after his contract situation was not addressed at an earlier stage.

Darling has now issued a statement on social media, external declaring that “with a heavy heart”, his time at Swansea is over.