Merthyr Town complete transfer swoop as ex-Newport City midfielder returns and former Cardiff City attacker joins
Cole Jarvis was an important player for Newport City. (Pic by Nik Mesney/FAW)
Merthyr Town have completed a double swoop, bringing Newport County midfielder Cole Jarvis back to Penydarren Park on loan and signing former Cardiff City and Stoke City forward Japhet Matondo.
Jarvis has returned to the Martyrs until January, while Matondo joins following his release from Stoke. Both players arrive with previous experience of Welsh football, with Jarvis having progressed through Merthyr’s academy and Matondo having spent more than a decade developing at Cardiff City.
The two signings provide manager Paul Michael with additional options as Merthyr continue their campaign, with both players looking to make an impact at their former and new club respectively.
Cole Jarvis returns to Merthyr Town from Newport County
Jarvis has rejoined Merthyr on loan until January after signing for Newport County from the Penydarren Park club at the start of 2026.
The 25-year-old has featured 11 times in League Two for the Exiles and scored his first Football League goal in the defeat against Bristol Rovers in August.
He made his fourth appearance of the current campaign in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy fixture against Plymouth before completing his return to Merthyr.
Jarvis came through the Martyrs’ academy and made his first-team debut at the age of 16. He subsequently gained senior experience across the Welsh football pyramid with Llanrumney United, Cardiff Corinthians and Newport City before moving to Newport County.
After coming through Merthyr Town’s academy and making his first-team debut as a teenager, Jarvis moved into Welsh senior football to continue his development.
Risca United formed part of that early journey. Jarvis subsequently represented Llanrumney United and Cardiff Corinthians, also known as Cardiff Corries, as he continued to work his way through the Welsh football system.
Career records place his time at Llanrumney around 2021-22 and his Cardiff Corries spell around 2022-23. These moves preceded his switch to Newport City, where his performances would help attract attention from Merthyr once again.
Merthyr manager Paul Michael welcomed the midfielder’s return, highlighting the qualities he believes Jarvis will bring to the squad.
“It’s a big boost to bring Cole back in at this time of the season,” Michael said.
“We all know what he’s going to give us on the pitch. He’s going to bring athleticism, a physical presence, a lot of quality and hopefully impact in both boxes.”
Former Cardiff City and Stoke City forward Japhet Matondo signs
Merthyr have also announced the signing of forward Japhet Matondo following his release from Stoke City.
Matondo joined Cardiff City’s academy as a youngster in 2012 and spent more than a decade developing at the Welsh club before moving to Stoke in the summer of 2024.
His move to the Potters followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Wales international Rabbi Matondo, who previously had a loan spell with Stoke.
The forward has represented Wales at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level. He scored for Wales Under-19s in a friendly against Sweden at Leckwith Stadium in June 2023.
Merthyr manager Paul Michael said he was pleased to bring the young forward to the club and pointed to the experience he had gained at Cardiff and Stoke.
“We’re really pleased to bring Japhet to the club,” Michael said to the official club website.
“He’s a young Welsh player who has been coached in excellent academy environments at Cardiff and Stoke, and he has the pace and ability to beat players that can really hurt the opposition.
“He’s hungry for regular senior football, and we believe Merthyr is the right place for him to take the next step in his career.”
