This time last year, Daniel James was thought to be one of Darren Way's transfer targets for Yeovil Town.
According to the Times, The Glovers were the only club to enquire about the winger's availability after the Swans were relegated from the Premier League.
At that point, his sole first-team appearance was off the bench in the FA Cup and Way's interest didn't seem unrealistic.
But James wasn't going anywhere and, fast forward 12 months, he is on the brink of a £15 million move to Manchester United.
James was born in Beverley, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and was in Hull City's Academy before joining the Swans under-18s in 2014 for £72,000.
In 2017, he spent two months on loan at League One Shrewsbury Town but it didn't work out.
It was only last season - after 16 first-team players left the Liberty Stadium - that he made his breakthrough and started his stratospheric rise.
His most impressive attribute was his pace as he dribbled with the ball. By the end of the 2018/19 campaign he had made 39 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals and providing ten assists.
In January, the 21-year-old came very close to a £10 million move to Leeds United and even completed a medical but Huw Jenkins, the former Swansea chairman, pulled the plug on the deal at the end of the transfer window.
James - whose dad was born in Aberdare - has won two caps for Wales. Though right-footed, he is comfortable on either wing but prefers to operate on the left.
After scoring on his home international debut against Slovakia, manager Ryan Giggs said: "He's a talent.
"When you've got that raw pace, you're a threat at any level so as a winger - obviously for me playing as a winger - when I was younger, you then have to develop the other parts of your game which I feel he is doing.
"He's played up front as well, which will help him because that you an appreciation of what you need to do. He can play the position and he can play up front.
"He just needs to carry on doing what he's doing for Swansea, it's as simple as that."
James' move to Old Trafford could be delayed by the fact his father passed away earlier this week.
A statement issued by Swansea read: "Everyone at Swansea City has been saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Daniel James' father.
"Everyone at the football club send their condolences and our thoughts are with Daniel and his family at this sad time."
