Former Lincoln City midfielder Matty Virtue is reportedly set for a move to Swindon Town after leaving Fleetwood Town.
The 29-year-old has been the subject of interest from a number of League Two clubs, but Swindon appear to have won the race for his signature. Pete O’Rourke has reported that the Robins have seen off competition from elsewhere in the division to land Virtue on a free transfer, with the move expected to take him to the County Ground as Ian Holloway continues shaping his squad for the new campaign.
Virtue spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Sincil Bank from Blackpool. He arrived to be a part of Mark Kennedy’s squad and went on to play regularly in midfield, making 36 appearances in all competitions and scoring four. It was not always an easy season for the Imps in terms of fluency, but Virtue brought energy, bite and a willingness to get on the ball.
His goals for Lincoln came in memorable away games. He scored in the 6-3 defeat at Bristol Rovers, one of the more chaotic afternoons of that campaign, and was also on target in the 3-0 win at Accrington Stanley. He also scored in the League Cup win at Bristol City, a big evening for the Imps.
A product of Liverpool’s academy, Virtue had earlier spent time on loan at Notts County before making the permanent switch to Blackpool in 2019. He was part of the Seasiders’ squad for several years, although injury interrupted part of his time there, before his loan move to Lincoln and eventual departure to Fleetwood in 2024.
His first season at Fleetwood was productive on an individual level, despite the club enduring a difficult campaign. Virtue scored nine goals in League Two during 2024/25, often from midfield positions, and gave Fleetwood a useful attacking threat in a struggling side. Last season brought three goals and five assists, with his role shifting at times as Fleetwood used him both centrally and from the right.
The Robins have already added Mitch Clark and Stephan Negru this summer, and Virtue now looks set to become their third arrival. It’s believed he turned down Grimsby Town as part of the process, so we can certainly applaud that.
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