As Swindon Town gear up for the 2025/26 League Two campaign, the club has decided to turn its attention to top flight academies in a bid to strengthen the squad with youthful energy that also has potential Premier League pedigree.
After finishing 12th last season and falling eight points shy of the play-off positions, manager Ian Holloway is looking to reshape the team and mount a serious promotion challenge, hoping to return to League One for the first time since their relegation back in 2021.
In order for this to be a possibility, the veteran manager has started by adding promising young talent from some of the country's most respected development systems.
New Premier League U21 Signings
In a clear signal of intent for their ambitions this coming season, Swindon Town have begun recruiting from the U21 setups of Premier League clubs, partially targeting players who possess technical polish and high performance training backgrounds. These early acquisitions are part of a wider strategy from the Robins to blend youthful enthusiasm with more experienced heads. Hoping to create a more dynamic squad capable of competing at the top end, the side currently has odds of 20/1 to win League Two outright on many betting sites and other platforms like Outplayed who explain what is matched betting.
Filozofe Mabete
One of the standout arrivals is 20 year old Filozofe Mabete who has joined Swindon following the expiration of his contract at Wolves. Gaining attention for his mature reading of the game and overall physical presence, standing at 6 foot 1, the versatile defender made a total of 15 appearances in the Premier League 2 last season.
Starting seven of these fixtures, he won a total of 54 duels and recovered the ball 37 times in just 700 minutes across the campaign, showing the structure he has to his game. Mabete, who is eligible for both England and the DR Congo, has the ability to play both centrally and at full back. This will give Holloway the much needed flexibility at the back for Swindon, a vital trait that will prove useful in the long and demanding League Two season.
Joe Snowdon
Another intriguing addition to the Swindon side early in the transfer window is Joe Snowdon, a central midfielder who joins from Leeds United. Despite only managing to make 12 appearances last year, the hard working youngster managed to pick up four goals and a handful of assists in his limited game time, something which has clearly caught the eye of the Robins.
Snowdon comes with a reputation for pressing intelligence and passing range, bringing a Premier League calibre engine to the middle of the park too. Although only signing on a one-year contract, Snowdon could prove to be a key figure in Holloway’s tactical plans, adding depth to the squad's core, all whilst bringing some extra flexibility due to his ability to pete across a number of midfield positions.
Other Experienced Names Join The Robins
While youth has been a clear focus from the start of pre-season, the Robins have also secured some extra experience to bring balance to a relatively young squad. Among them is James Ball whose League Two experience with Rochdale and AFC Wimbledon adds some extra grit to the midfield.
Midfield has clearly been a sought after position for Holloway as Swindon also secured the services of Darren Oldaker on a two-year deal back in May. The former Chesterfield captain brings a wealth of leadership to the core of the team, with the 26-year-old being instrumental in his previous club's promotion exploits.
Additionally, Swindon have confirmed that goalkeeper Connor Ripley has committed to the club for another two seasons, making 15 total appearances in the previous campaign after joining in February. This extension becomes even more important as young goalkeeper Jack Bycroft is now exploring opportunities elsewhere. By locking down Ripley, Swindon maintain a reliable last line of defence whilst also adding some more depth to the goalkeeper room.
Holloway Looking To Defy Odds In The 2025/26 Season
After signing a contract extension in March that will see him remain at the County Ground until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, Ian Holloway is determined to guide the Robins back to a more successful season this year. His first season in charge, despite bringing entertainment, was relatively inconsistent at points, seeing Swidon finish 12th ultimately and falling short of the promotion picture.
With his long term future now secured, Holloway is now laying the foundations for a more sustained push after showing flashes of potential last year. Building a square that is both technically sharp and resilient to the nature of League Two football, his managerial experience and attacking playing style will be a strong fit for a Swindon side that has ambitions of rekindling their League One status.
