Wilfried Bony, Swansea Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Reaction

Any European powers looking to bolster their forward line in the foreseeable future were dealt a blow on Wednesday, as burgeoning star Wilfried Bony signed a contract extension with Swansea City.     

The club's official Twitter account announced the move:

The signing locks up Bony until 2018, and Swans boss Garry Monk was thrilled with the move, as he told the club's website:

"

It’s great news for the club. I’ve spoken a lot about what Bony has brought to the club not just on the pitch but off it as well. 

These types of players are ones that we do our best to keep at the club for a long time. But it’s also important that we see commitment from that player towards the club, his team-mates and the fans. Bony has shown that he is very committed to this club by signing an extension here.

"

Bony has been superb for the Swans since signing in 2013. In 34 appearances for the club last season he scored 16 goals and four assists, earning a 7.11 average match rating from WhoScored.com for his efforts. This season he hasn't quite kept up his torrid scoring pace from a season ago, with four goals, an assist in 11 appearances, with a 7.02 average match rating. 

A big, powerful, athletic forward, Bony is a hassle for opposing defenders, able to provide an impact in the air or finish off the dribble. He's given Swansea a true lynchpin for the attack and has made the summer season-long loan of Michu irrelevant. 

Now, Swans fans will be hoping they can hold onto him until 2018. If he continues to play as well as he has since joining the club, however, that is going to prove a difficult task.