CROATIAN international winger Mislav Orsic declared “it’s a dream for every football player to come to the Premier League” as Saints confirmed their first January signing.

The club confirmed the arrival of the attacking midfielder on a two-and-a-half-year contract, as he becomes the first signing of Nathan Jones era at St Mary’s.

Orsic, 30, brings with him a significant pedigree on both the European and international stage, most recently starring in the 2022 World Cup, where he played a major role in Croatia earning third place in the competition. 

His fine tournament was highlighted by scoring the winning goal in the third-place match against Morocco, while Orsic also created his country’s extra-time equaliser in their famous quarter-final win over favourites Brazil, scoring a critical spot kick in the penalty shootout of that game as well.

READ MORE: Mislav Orsic undergoing medical at Saints ahead of upcoming transfer

On signing his Saints deal, Orsic said: “I feel very happy to be here, I think it’s a dream for every football player to come to play in the Premier League and I’m here, I’m ready, I’m motivated and I hope that I will help the team to achieve their goals.

“When I come here to the camp, it’s amazing, and I’m sure I will really enjoy my time here. Now it’s a little bit of a difficult situation for the club, but I think we need to stay together.

"We have only one plan – everybody to stay in the Premier League. We need to work hard every day and I hope that at the end of the year we will be happy.”

Saints manager Nathan Jones added: “Mislav is a significant addition to our squad and I’m delighted we have been able to get him in so quickly this month.

“He’s a serious attacking threat and I’m sure anyone who has followed his progress or saw what he achieved at the World Cup will realise the talent he has. We’re excited to have him here.”

Orsic was on the verge of completing a move to eventually relegated Burnley last January, before an agreed deal fell through at the final stages.

He leaves Dinamo Zagreb following a magnificent four-and-a-half-year spell with the Croatian giants, helping them win the top-flight HNL title in each of the past four years, while also becoming their leading European scorer of all time, with 28 goals across the Champions League and Europa League.

That included scoring in the 1-0 win over Chelsea in a Champions League group stage game last September – one of five goals Orsic scored in this season’s campaign – as well as a hat-trick against Tottenham in a Europa League last-16 tie in March 2021 that propelled his side into the quarter-finals.

In total, Orsic made 216 appearances during his time with Dinamo Zagreb, scoring at a remarkable rate, with 91 goals for the club.

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