Swansea City had last laugh after promotion hero sealed controversial Wolves switch | OneFootball

Dorus De Vries left Swansea City in controversial circumstances but it proved to be a poor call

The 2007/08 season saw Swansea City storm to the League One title, with two unheralded summer signings from Scottish clubs playing key roles at both ends of the pitch.

Jason Scotland was brought in from St Johnstone and his 29 goals in all competitions helped fire the Swans to the title, while Dutch goalkeeper Dorus De Vries joined from Dunfermline Athletic and cemented his status as the club's first-choice shot-stopper.

Over the course of the next four seasons, De Vries became one of the first names on the teamsheet for Swansea under Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rodgers, and he made it two promotions in 2011 when he started the Swans' Championship play-off final victory against Reading.

It looked as if De Vries would be Swansea's first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League after impressing across the previous four seasons, but the Dutchman had other ideas, sealing a move to a top-flight rival where things didn't go to plan.

Dorus De Vries swapped Swansea for Wolves - it didn't work out

De Vries' contract expired in the summer of 2011 after Swansea won promotion, and while the club were keen to retain him and subsequently offered a new deal, it was rejected, and the Dutchman became a free agent.

It didn't take long for De Vries to be snapped up by a Premier League club, and he signed for Wolves on a three-year deal, a huge blow to Swansea ahead of their first season in the top-flight - and a boost to one of their direct relegation rivals.

However, De Vries' time at Molineux didn't get off to the best of starts, and he found himself playing second-fiddle to Wayne Hennessey, with the Dutchman's only playing time coming in cup competitions.

Mick McCarthy's side endured a torrid 2011/12 campaign and were struggling for results, but De Vries still couldn't force his way into the side, and you'd have been able to forgive the ex-Swansea man for regretting his decision to swap South Wales for the Black Country.

In total, De Vries made just four Premier League appearances for Wolves, all of which came in the final few weeks of the season, which included conceding four against his former club as his side and Swansea played out a crazy 4-4 draw.

Swansea had the last laugh just a few weeks later when Wolves were relegated from the Premier League after finishing bottom of the table, 22 points and nine places behind the Swans, capping a miserable season for the Dutch shot-stopper.

Had De Vries signed a new contract at Swansea he could have played regular football in a side that stayed in the division, and his decision to move to Wolves, where he barely featured, proved a poor call in hindsight.

De Vries' exit left Swansea scrambling to sign a replacement, and while they initially brought in Jose Moreira and Gerhard Tremmel, it was the third signing who really made the starting shirt his own.

Dutch international Michel Vorm was brought in from FC Utrecht, and he immediately showed his quality, with his performances eventually earning him a move to Spurs in the summer of 2014.

Had De Vries not decided to leave Swansea, they may not have signed Vorm, and while De Vries was a good goalkeeper, it's fair to say he wasn't at the level of his compatriot, who won 15 caps for the Netherlands.

While De Vries leaving was a big blow for Swansea at the time, it actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and his time at Wolves showed he may not have been a Premier League-standard goalkeeper, despite impressing in the Championship previously.

After just 20 appearances for Wolves in all competitions, De Vries would leave the club in 2013 for Nottingham Forest, spending three years at the City Ground before reuniting with former Swansea boss Rodgers at Celtic, where he was largely second choice, making 15 appearances in three seasons.

While De Vries enjoyed a good career, playing in Europe for Celtic and making a handful of Premier League appearances, he may always wonder how different things could have been had he remained with Swansea, and the Welsh club certainly had the last laugh after signing Vorm.