RALPH Hasenhuttl is pleased to tie Nathan Tella down to a fresh contract, admitting: "These are the sort of players we like to develop at Southampton."

Academy graduate Tella today extended his contract at Saints, signing a new deal which runs until the summer of 2025.

He previously penned a long-term deal in July 2020, which was due to expire at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

But the 22-year-old has now committed for another three-and-a-half years at St Mary's.

Boss Hasenhuttl said: “Nathan is a good example of a young player with a lot of potential who is willing to learn and to push himself.

"These are the sort of players we like to develop at Southampton.

“He has played some excellent games already and made some good improvements in his time working with us.

"I think he can develop a lot more here, so it is good that he can focus on improving his qualities with us even more over the coming seasons.”

Tella debuted for the first team in June 2020 and has now made 33 senior appearances, scoring twice.