Stoke City's Ethan Galbraith is set to face his former club Swansea City in the Championship opener this weekend, after joining the Potters at the start of July. The 24-year-old midfielder turned down an improved contract offer from Swansea to join Stoke City, and is now set to come up against his former team in the opening match of the season. Swansea City boss Vitor Matos insists he has "not disappointed at all" by Galbraith's departure, and believes the choice ultimately comes down to the individual. "That's football," said Matos. "I think every situation is different. In football and other areas, when all the parties are happy, the club buying is happy, the club selling is happy with the amount of value it receives, and the player is happy too. Everyone is happy. "We move on, and that's it. "I'm not disappointed at all. "When everyone is happy with the situation, we are all happy. We need to work on the future. "We cannot work based on what could have been or what was before. We need to work on what we have. "That is the most important thing in these kinds of situations." Galbraith's decision to join Stoke City raised eyebrows among some Swansea supporters, with the move to the Potteries viewed by some as a sideways step for a player who had been tipped to reach the Premier League. But Matos believes the choice ultimately comes down to the individual. "I hope Gally is answering that question," he said when asked why the midfielder opted for Stoke. "It's normal, it happens with so many players around the world. "If we all believed that happiness was in the same place, that would be tricky because we would all be going there. "Every person tries to find their place and Gally made a decision. "I have nothing but good words to say about him. He is a really good kid and a really good professional who was really important for us in different phases of the season, in different roles as well." Galbraith has won 11 caps for Northern Ireland, but has established himself as a starter in Michael O'Neill's team in the last 12 months. The Glengormley man started his career at Manchester United, before joining Leyton Orient in 2023. The 25-year-old signed for Swansea in 2025. League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 17th in Championship, 55 pts, 15W-10D-21L from 46 games, recent form LLLLD. Goals this season: 51 scored, 56 conceded (-5 goal difference). Title race: 40 points behind leaders Coventry. Next fixture: vs Watford (at home, 2027-02-13) (16th in the table).