Caio Ifans has signed his first professional contract with Swansea City, committing to a one-year deal that runs until June 2027. The 18-year-old midfielder is now focused on breaking into the senior first team at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Family sporting background
Ifans is the son of former Scarlets full-back Garan Evans, who earned four caps for Wales between 1998 and 2003 and represented his country at the Rugby World Cup. The teenager played rugby as a child but chose football instead, joining Swansea City's academy at age seven.
“It means everything to sign a professional contract,” Ifans told the club's website. “For me, it will be so special to hopefully be on that pitch one day after watching in the stands my entire life.”
Academy journey
Ifans made his debut for Swansea's Under-21s as a 16-year-old more than two seasons ago and has since been a regular, featuring in the Nathaniel MG Cup and Premier League Cup. He also helped the Under-18s reach the final of the Professional Development League Cup during the 2023/24 season.
“Two years ago, I made my under-21s' debut as a 16-year-old at the stadium and it was incredible,” he said. “Now, I've been involved with the older boys quite a lot and I'm looking forward to a full season with them.”
Targets and ambitions
After agreeing his first professional contract, Ifans described it as “a step in the right direction.” He added: “I can't wait for the challenge, I know I've only got a one-year contract so all I'm going to do this season is fight and work very hard.”
On his sporting family's influence, Ifans noted: “It means a lot to me and to my family that I've made it this far from being in the academy at such a young age. I also played rugby growing up so I always loved sport, and I've come from a sporting family. But I started taking football more seriously when I was getting closer to scholarship age.”
Father's career
Ifans' father, Garan Evans, made close to 400 appearances at club level for Llanelli and the Scarlets. His international caps came mostly five years after his Test debut in 1998. He started against New Zealand at the 2003 Rugby World Cup but was stretchered off with a neck brace after five minutes and never played for Wales again before retiring in 2008.
