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Wales defender Ben Davies has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone at Swansea City after completing his switch to Tottenham.

The 21-year-old had been with the Swans throughout his footballing life and spent 13 years at the club in total before moving to White Hart Lane.

As he departed with many great memories, the international full-back was keen to thank everyone at the club.

“I had never thought or wanted to leave Swansea, but an opportunity like this doesn’t come up often in your career,” said Davies.

“I will always be grateful for what Swansea City has done for me and it will always be the club in my heart.

“Having been at the club since the age of eight, I had to think long and hard about leaving because I owe everything to the staff and the club in general."

Davies fondly recalls his senior debut and sees it as ironic that his career at Swansea has come full circle - beginning on a Swans tour of America and ending on one.

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“The fans have been brilliant with me. It’s quite ironic really that it was on our last American tour two years ago that I was first introduced into the first team. Then, when Neil Taylor had his bad injury soon after, I found myself a regular in the team.

“It was a massive step for me and it wasn’t easy. But the supporters were right behind me from the very start. They believed in me and gave me the backing I probably needed as a young player at the time.

“I’d like to thank them all personally, but obviously that’s not possible. Like I said, I’ll always be grateful, but I also hope they feel I have given something back to them over the last two years."

The Neath-born defender was quick to stress that he won't become a distant memory for people at the club and will be back in the stands at the Liberty Stadium whenever he can.

“I’ll be back to watch the boys when I can from the stand. It was sad saying my goodbyes because they’ve been great with me from the first day I joined the squad. But in the end it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

“I’m a local lad that has come through the ranks, which is what the Academy system is all about."

He now moves on to the next chapter in his career as a footballer and is looking forward to fighting his way in to Mauricio Pochettino's side.

“Moving to Spurs is a massive footballing challenge for me again, but I’m looking forward to it.

“They were the ones chasing me from the beginning and I want to repay the faith they have shown in me by doing well for them and continuing to improve as a player.’’

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