Newcastle United transfer exit ‘leaked’ as ex-West Ham defender named on club website

The deal is a contender for the worst kept secret in football.

Harrison Ashby’s season-long loan move to Swansea City is set to be confirmed after the right-back accidentally appeared on the Championship club’s website.

Newcastle United right-back Harrison Ashby is close to joining Swansea City. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) | Getty Images

placeholder image — Newcastle United right-back Harrison Ashby is close to joining Swansea City. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Ashby registered his first minutes for Eddie Howe’s first-team this pre-season since completing his £3million move from West Ham United in January. The 21-year-old featured at Gateshead and Rangers, and also against Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion in the US Premier League Summer Series.

Along with the rest of his Newcastle United teammates, Ashby arrived back in North East on Sunday but travelled south less than 48 hours later to undergo his medical at the Swansea.com stadium.

Neither club are yet to announce the deal but Swansea haven’t done a very good job of hiding it.

In a training gallery published by the Swansea on Wednesday morning, a snap of midfielder Azeem Abdulai featured the arm of an unidentified player whose tattoos are identical to Ashby’s.

And today, Swansea went a step further by allowing to purchase their new shirt with ‘Ashby 30’ on the back, which is the number the young defender wore in pre-season for Newcastle. The gaffe has since been removed.

Ashby is expected to be available for Swansea’s Championship opener at home to Birmingham City on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).