Plymouth Argyle has signed forward, Morgan Whittaker from Swansea City for a club-record transfer fee.
Whittaker produced nine goals and seven assists in 25 appearances whilst on loan at Argyle in the first-half of last season, which ultimately helped the Pilgrims clinch promotion to the Championship as League One champions come the end of last season.
Plymouth have since managed to negotiate a club-record deal to sign Whittaker for around £1m plus add-ons, with the 22 year-old having signed a four-year contract at Home Park until June 2027.
Manager, Steven Schumacher believes that Whittaker can improve now that he is a Plymouth player after feeling “naturally disappointed” that his loan deal was terminated in January, as he commented: “At just 22 he has so much room for growth and development, and we are thrilled he has decided that Home Park is the place he wants to do that.
“He gets fans off their seats and is one of the most exciting prospects in the EFL.”
Whittaker is Plymouth’s fifth summer signing following the captures of; Julio Pleguezuelo, Lewis Gibson and Conor Hazard, plus the loan signing of Kaine Kesler-Hayden in recent weeks.
Schumacher proceeded to explain that Whittaker had actually been one of the club’s main transfer priorities, as he added: “He has been one of our main targets all summer, and it is a real coup to bring him back to the club. I know the fans will agree when I say I can’t wait to see him run out in an Argyle shirt once again.”
Plymouth’s Director of Football, Neil Dewsnip echoed Schumacher’s thoughts as he added that the club are “delighted” to complete the club-record transfer signing.
Dewsnip went on to add that Whittaker “… fits the profile of player we like to work with, young and exciting, with loads of room for growth. We saw what he could do last year in League One, and there is no doubt in our minds that he will have a similar impact for us in the Championship this season.”
Whittaker’s move brings his two-and-a-half spell at Swansea to an end having scored six goals in 37 appearances since he joined from Derby in January 2021, during which he scored a 11-minute hat-trick against Plymouth in a 4-1 home win in the Second Round of 2021-22 Carabao Cup.