SAINTS have confirmed the signing of Sekou Mara from Girondins de Bordeaux on a four-year deal, subject to international clearance.

The club announced an agreement in principle with the French side last week, and the player’s medical and relevant paperwork have since been completed.

The talented 19-year-old forward attracted interest from a number of clubs after scoring five goals in the last seven Ligue 1 matches last season, but becomes Saints’ sixth summer addition.

After signing his contract, Mara said: “I’m really happy to sign for Southampton and to be a Saint for the next years. Southampton have given me a good opportunity to progress.

“I’m a young player and I have to work. I think Southampton is the best club for me to develop myself and progress to be one of the best. I’m impatient to begin with this team and score goals.”

Born in Paris, Mara was previously on the books of Paris Saint-Germain and Boulogne-Billancourt before joining Bordeaux in 2017.

Quickly accelerating through the ranks, he impressed for the B team as a 17-year-old before making his first-team debut in February 2021 and scoring his first goal three months later.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl added: “Sekou is coming here to score goals and has shown in the French league he can do this, now he needs to work hard and show he can do this in the Premier League.

“He is a young guy who will need time to adapt to a new country and a new league, but we are excited about his potential and what he can become in the future.”

The France under-21 international turns 20 on Saturday and follows the arrivals of Gavin Bazunu, Mateusz Lis, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Romeo Lavia and Joe Aribo.

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