Swansea City have secured the services of free agent Ross Stewart after the Scotland striker departed from Southampton.

Stewart has agreed to a three-year contract at the Swansea.com Stadium, having exited the Saints in June when talks over a new deal broke down.

The 30-year-old forward's signing could raise questions about Zan Vipotnik's role at Swansea, as the Slovenian striker, who topped the Championship scoring charts last season, may draw attention from other clubs during this window.

Stewart, who featured in Scotland's squad for this summer's World Cup, has netted goals in the Championship for both Southampton and Sunderland. Swans head coach Vitor Matos describes him as an experienced and proven performer at this level.

"During our discussions, he expressed his strong desire to serve as a key senior player and leader within our squad," noted the head coach.

"His record in front of goal demonstrates his willingness to take on responsibility, and we are eager to begin working with him and integrating him into the team."

Stewart found the net 11 times in 33 matches for Southampton in the previous campaign, marking his most productive season at the club after injuries limited him to just 17 outings in the two years prior.

He has earned four caps for Scotland, including a substitute appearance versus Morocco at the recent World Cup.

With Liam Cullen sold to Leicester City and Bobby Wales potentially heading out on loan, Stewart joins Vipotnik and Adam Idah as the main attacking options available to Matos.

Stewart sat out a significant portion of the 2025-26 season due to a hamstring issue, yet remained effective upon return, recording nine goals and two assists across 27 league games.

He also contributed two goals during Southampton's FA Cup run to the semi-finals, notably opening the scoring in their quarter-final win against Arsenal.

His early career included spells with Ardeer Thistle and Kilwinning Rangers before moving to Albion Rovers in 2016.

The player from Irvine went on to represent St Mirren, Alloa Athletic and Ross County, where he claimed the 2018-19 Scottish Championship and Scottish Challenge Cup titles, prior to his transfer to Sunderland in 2021.

At Sunderland, Stewart was highly effective, tallying 40 goals in 81 games and aiding the side in winning the EFL Trophy in 2021 and achieving promotion to the Championship the following year.

His strong performances at the Stadium of Light led to a move to Southampton in 2023, where he registered 12 goals in 50 appearances overall.

"We are pleased to welcome Ross to Swansea City, as he adds considerable experience both on and off the field," commented the club's sporting director Ben Stevens.

"His standout displays in the Championship last season earned him a well-deserved spot in Scotland's World Cup squad. We look forward to seeing him in action for Swansea."

Stewart is the club's sixth permanent addition this summer, following Moussa Yeo, Elijah Just, Joseph Opoku, Stephen Welsh and Leo Walta, who had previously been on loan.

They have further bolstered the squad by signing Benfica left-back Tiago Parente on a temporary basis.

Valencia's Andre Almeida and midfielder Ousseynou Fall Seck from Danish outfit Randers remain targets for the Swans.