No hard feelings for Matos before Galbraith reunion

Swansea made a significant profit on Ethan Galbraith after signing him for £1.5m in 2025 [Getty Images] Vitor Matos insists he has no hard feelings towards Ethan Galbraith and says it is down to the midfielder to explain why he swapped Swansea City for Stoke City. Galbraith left in July after only one season to join a Potters side who finished nine points and six places below the Swans in 2025-26. The Northern Ireland international is in line for a swift reunion with his former club, when Matos' Swansea face Stoke in Saturday's Championship opener at the bet365 Stadium. Galbraith, who started in the Potters' 2-0 Carabao Cup win against Oldham last Saturday, moved on despite a successful year at Swansea which saw him offered an improved contract in the spring. When asked why the 25-year-old opted to depart, Matos said: "I hope Galbraith is answering that question. "I think it's normal, it happens with so many players around the world… If we all believed that happiness was in the same place, that would be tricky because we would all be going there. "Every person tries to find their place and Gally (Galbraith) made a decision. I have nothing but good words to say about him. He is a really good kid and a really good professional who was really important for us in different phases of the season, in different roles as well." New rules not easy for officials - Matos Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views Galbraith scored four goals in 44 appearances – many of which were as a back-up right-back - for Swansea after joining from Leyton Orient in the summer of 2025. In April, Matos said he wanted the former Manchester United youngster to remain in Wales for a decade, only for Swansea to agree a £10m deal with Stoke three months later. "That's football," Matos added. "He decided [he wanted to join Stoke], the club who is selling is happy with the amount to receive, the club who is buying is happy because they are getting the player. So when the three parties are very happy and the agents… yeah, that's really nice." Galbraith said last month that while he had "big respect" for Swansea, the Stoke move appealed to him because of the "ambition of the club". Matos insists he was "not disappointed at all" by Galbraith's desire to go. "We are all happy and we need to work on the future and I think that's the most important thing," the Portuguese said. Listen to the latest Swansea City interviews, news and discussion on BBC Sounds