Birmingham City and Swansea City should praise an Exeter City player following his transfer announcement: View.
Pierce Sweeney is not quite a journeyman, but he has made a significant advancement in his career.
The Irishman, who turned 30 earlier this month, is in his seventh season at St James Park, but things could have gone quite differently for the popular centre defender.
Sweeney declined a new contract and will leave City on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
On June 11th, it was revealed that he was joining Swindon Town on July 1st. However, he left one day after coming through the door, citing personal reasons as the club went through financial troubles that saw salaries getting underpaid.
| Pierce Sweeney’s Exeter career prior to 2024/25, per FotMob | ||
|---|---|---|
| Season | Appearances | Goals |
| 2016/17 | 37 | 0 |
| 2017/18 | 49 | 9 |
| 2018/19 | 46 | 4 |
| 2019/20 | 48 | 3 |
| 2020/21 | 42 | 3 |
| 2021/22 | 49 | 0 |
| 2022/23 | 49 | 2 |
| 2023/24 | 48 | 0 |
The club captain returned to Exeter seven days later and has since become an integral part of both Matt Taylor’s and Gary Caldwell’s squads.
He is living proof that the grass isn’t always greener, but this isn’t true for everyone.
Sweens has matured into a club leader, and the younger players rely to him for assistance on a variety of topics, including transfers and their own career prospects.
Sweeney took part in the Stansfield Birmingham transfer.
Stansfield moved from Fulham to Birmingham City this summer in a deal for up to £20 million, with City potentially receiving £4 million in sell-ons.
The attacker spent last season on loan at St Andrew’s and formed a great bond with the Blues when they were relegated, finishing as top scorer and winning the Midlands club’s awards night.
The choice to move from a Premier League team to a League One club was significant, and Stanno sought the captain’s opinion on it.
“I will never sugarcoat a situation,” he stated. “I didn’t do that with Stanno; he obviously got a rich seven-year deal there, so I’m not shocked he’s opted to join Birmingham.
“They are clearly a terrific football club in their own right, but what they are doing there is fantastic, and they are receiving positive support.
“I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago before he signed,” he says. “I’m not sure why he was seeking my opinion, but I simply told him that he could either follow his heart or his mind and continue in the Premier League for as long as he wanted.
“He’s obviously gone with his heart and he’s gone with the project at Birmingham and fair play to him, he’s cemented his future.”
Stansfield is definitely an emotional character, which is understandable given what has occurred to him in his youth, but he also appears to have his head screwed on.
Fulham manager Marco Silva claimed the 22-year-old England youth international would be part of his first-team squad in the top flight this season, so dropping two tiers was a significant decision that required careful consideration.
Sweeney’s advise appears to be sound, and Stanno appears to have followed his heart. He has a hefty deal and is now a very wealthy man playing somewhere he likes in front of an audience that adores him.
Sweeney also advised Watkins and Key.
Sweeney discussed Watkins’ hesitation about leaving Exeter City to join Brentford in 2017 and Josh Key seeking his advice before joining Swansea City last summer.
“It’s not the first time a player has called me, and I’m still waiting for a cheque from Josh Key!” Stanno will also receive one in the post! When I was 22 or 23, Ollie Watkins asked me what he thought about coming to Brentford, and I told him I’d drive him there personally!”Sweeney wrote in his DevonLive column.
“He was wondering whether to attend or not, but listen, if players perceive me in that light, great. I’m definitely doing something correctly, and I should speak a good game!”
Agent Sweens plans to pursue a career in player representation after retirement, but for now, he is committed to his current position at Exeter.
Sweeney has experienced both sides of the coin, with a transfer from Reading to Exeter that has lasted the test of time and one to Swindon that was ripped up before the ink was dry on the contract.
City is unique in that they desire, or have to sell, their finest players.
Sweeney has only actually represented one team on the field throughout
t his career he’s had a big impact on four, and Birmingham, Brentford and Swansea fans should all join Exeter in singing his praises and being thankful for the Irishman’s sage advice as all three deals mentioned have worked out pretty well for all involved.
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