How all 16 Southampton loanees performed and their possible next steps

Loans were made with missions varying from proving themselves as a first-team asset next season, reshaping the Saints squad and giving academy youngsters their first experiences.

In total, 16 Saints players ended the season out with clubs across the Premier League, Football League, National League and other European divisions.

We have compiled a catch-up on all of their performances and, where possible, some insight into their potential next best steps…

READ MORE: Southampton's Bree addresses Jones exit and states Championship ambition

Premier League

Jack Stephens – AFC Bournemouth

Stephens has managed to help keep the Cherries in the Premier League for another season during his loan spell at Vitality Stadium.

The Torpoint-born defender made 17 league appearances and was a more integral player under Gary O’Neil, starting in key wins over Wolves, Liverpool, Fulham, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

The future of Stephens remains unclear as – after 151 appearances for the club – his contract is due to expire in 12 months and he could seek to remain in the Premier League.

Championship

Nathan Tella – Burnley

Tella scored 17 goals to help fire Burnley to the Championship title in his first loan away from Saints, having signed at Staplewood when leaving Arsenal as a teenager.

The 23 year old forward was sent out on loan to play regular football for the first time and he has excelled, enjoying the environment Vincent Kompany has created at Turf Moor.

Tella could remain with Burnley but they would have to stump up at least £15-20million to acquire him – Saints would do well to keep him for their own Championship charge.

Will Smallbone – Stoke City

Smallbone could be set to return to Saints after a decent spell in the Championship at Stoke City. The Republic of Ireland international had a purple patch or two in 43 league appearances.

The 23 year old scored three goals and provided assists for a further five, with three in a 5-1 win over playoff qualifiers Sunderland.

Smallbone has battled injury over the past few years but had a fully uninterrupted season at Stoke – it would be a surprise if he was not in the Saints squad next term.

League One

Kegs Chauke – Exeter City

South African youth international Chauke experienced senior professional football for the first time with a big jump into League One, having arrived at Staplewood from Thatcham Town as a schoolboy.

Chauke, 20, who scored the winner versus Saints B in an EFL Trophy meeting, made 20 appearances in the league for the Grecians – but he finished the campaign strongly with five consecutive starts.

Caleb Watts – Morecambe

Watts, 21, has had another season interrupted by injuries but he did manage 21 appearances in League One, scoring twice. His first loan at Crawley Town last season was ended after one match due to injury.

Morecambe were relegated from the division and Watts is reportedly out of contract this summer. It could be that the young Australian moves onto a new permanent home or a one-year extension.

Dynel Simeu – Morecambe

Simeu was also relegated with Morecambe in the second half of the season, after excelling for Tranmere Rovers in League Two at the beginning of the campaign.

The 21 year old Southampton local made 32 league appearances across the season with 18 of those coming in League One – but he lost his place in the starting XI for the final five matches of the campaign.

Simeu is under contract until 2024 at St Mary’s and will hope to join the first team again during pre-season before it is determined what he does next season.

Dan Nlundulu – Bolton Wanderers

Striker Nlundulu played for two teams in League One this campaign, beginning as a regular starter at Cheltenham Town, scoring just four league goals before moving to Bolton Wanderers in January.

The 24 year old started the first two fixtures for his new club but he suffered another hamstring setback and never earned his regular starting spot back – netting his only goal for the club on the final day of the season.

Bolton did reach the playoffs, though, and Nlundulu started one of the two legs – in which they lost to Barnsley. He has one more year left on his contract at Saints and could make a permanent move in the summer.

League Two

Ryan Finnigan – Crewe Alexandra

Former Saints manager Nathan Jones was a big fan of midfielder Finnigan and had him around his first time, before going out to League Two Crewe Alexandra in January.

The 19 year old – who made his club debut under Ralph Hasenhuttl in the FA Cup in 2021 – is tipped for a future in the game and is likely to sign a new deal this summer, with his current one at Saints expiring.

Finnigan made 16 appearances for Crewe with 14 of those starts coming in the second half of the campaign, as the Railwaymen finished 13th in the division.

Kazeem Olaigbe – Harrogate Town

Olaigbe is credited as being a confident and ambitious young player following his nomination for Premier League 2 player of the season last campaign – he spent this season on loan at Ross County and Harrogate Town.

The aim was first and foremost to get the Belgian youth international senior dressing room experience and he made 44 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals and assisting six.

The versatile forward played 80+ minutes in every match since his first appearance at Harrogate. He will likely go on loan again next campaign to continue his development, having turned 20 years old this year.

National League

Nico Lawrence – Torquay United

#SaintsFC B team centre back Nico Lawrence has won the Torquay March Player Of The Month.

He also won the award in February after joining on loan in January 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/uqMbkTR4Qg

— Just Saints (@JustSaints_) April 6, 2023

Centre-back Lawrence only signed for the Seagulls in January but by the end of their campaign, he was a two-time player of the month and the club’s young player of the season.

The former Glebe FC man is a Rolls-Royce-style defender and will certainly go on to have a good career in the game – his very first loan spell is evidence of that.

Lawrence, 20, will hope to play some part in the club’s pre-season plans and then will likely look to get further senior minutes somewhere in the Football League.

National League North/South

Jack Bycroft – Taunton Town

Young goalkeeper Bycroft had a great experience with Somerset side Taunton Town as they survived their first season back in the sixth division of English football by a comfortable margin of 13 points.

Bycroft played 40 of their league games, conceded just 44 goals and kept 14 clean sheets in the process. He will have interest from National League or above clubs should he want another loan.

Will Tizzard – Chippenham Town

Centre-back Tizzard, who has been with the club since he was a boy, had a mixed season on loan at Chippenham Town – the club finished one point ahead of Taunton in the same division, in 13th.

After playing 22 league matches as a first-choice defender – and facing League One Burton Albion in the FA Cup, albeit suffering a heavy defeat – Tizzard’s season was ended months early through injury.

Jack Turner – Braintree Town

Midfielder Turner, who trialled with Leyton Orient earlier in the year before moving to Braintree Town on deadline day, helped his side reach the National League South playoffs.

The B team enforcer was a regular starter for Braintree but did not feature in their playoff eliminator loss to Worthing, and will likely look to find a new permanent club this summer.

Luke Pearce – Eastbourne Borough

Pearce is only 18 years old but is seen as physically ready for senior leagues after training with Walsall as a schoolboy before moving to Saints. He spent the second half of this term at National League South Eastbourne.

The striker scored six goals in 17 appearances and has a solid offer from the National League for another loan, but wants to push for a Football League experience with one year left on his Saints deal.

Other leagues

Mateusz Lis - Troyes - Ligue 1 (FRA)

Polish goalkeeper Lis was only signed by Saints last summer and is contracted until 2027 with a view to being a long-term backup goalkeeper at St Mary’s.

The 26 year old played eight games but spent most of the season as the second choice in the French first division, while his club were also relegated at the end of the campaign.

Thierry Small - St Mirren - SPL (SCO)

Small had a tumultuous time at the beginning of the campaign, going out to League One Port Vale and never finding his way into the squad – the left-back was even played as a striker in an experiment.

Saints called him back in January, he played a B team game or two before going to Scottish Premiership St Mirren – he had better success there, making 13 appearances as they finished in the top six.