How did Djenepo fare across his five seasons as a Southampton player?

The Mali international joined the club in June 2019 in a reported £14million deal. That fee combined with his seven goals and three assists during the previous campaign meant his signing was met with high expectations.

He joined in the same summer that Che Adams arrived at Saints, with Danny Ings also making his move from Liverpool a permanent one, following his loan spell.

Southampton had just finished in 16th position in the Premier League during the 2018-19 season.

But hopes were high with Ralph Hasenhuttl in charge after he had produced a promising end to the campaign.

First season – 2019-20

The versatile forward made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool before he made a huge impact in his next outing.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion when he received the ball from Ings, before curling an excellent strike into the far corner.

It gave Saints fans a glimpse of what he can be capable of.

Just a few weeks later, he was at it again as he produced a mazy run and wonderful finish to give Southampton all three points against Sheffield United in a 1-0 win.

Moussa Djenepo! Stop it! 🔥🔥🔥

Watch highlights of Sheffield United vs Southampton and the VAR decision to rule out Oli McBurnie's goal here: https://t.co/xBykiO7FGL pic.twitter.com/T5EZZpPZb6

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 15, 2019

Injury problems ruled him out of the next five matches, and he did not have the impact that he would have hoped for when he returned to the side.

During a match against Newcastle United at the beginning of March, Djenepo was sent off for a foul on Isaac Hayden in a 1-0 defeat.

That dismissal transpired to be his last outing for Southampton that season as he failed to make not make another appearance in the remainder of the campaign.

Second season – 2020-21

Signs of the player who had made such a positive impact at the start of his Saints career were in full evidence in just the fourth game of the 2020-21 campaign.

A clever left-footed finish in a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion helped the St Mary's side on their way to their second win of the Premier League season.

A hamstring problem ruled Djenepo out of the next two matches against Chelsea and Everton, but he was brought back for the 2-0 win against Newcastle in November.

His second goal of the season arrived in Southampton’s FA Cup quarter-final against AFC Bournemouth.

Nathan Redmond picked up the ball around 25 yards from goal and slid a delightful pass inside the full-back for Djenepo to run onto and slot the ball into the bottom corner.

Saints would go on to win the tie 3-0 to set up a semi-final at Wembley against Leicester City.

The winger started the semi-final, but the south coast club were unfortunately on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline.

It had been another campaign where it had not quite gone to plan for Djenepo.

Third season – 2021-22

He started the opening four games of the next campaign for Saints, as it looked like he might be a key player for the club.

He was soon dropped to the bench however for the 0-0 draw with Manchester City on September 18.

Djenepo was back in the team for the 1-0 win over Leeds United in October, which turned out to be Southampton’s first win of the league season.

A reduction in his minutes from that point onwards must have been frustrating for the Mali international, who was regularly not involved in the Saints squad on matchdays.

He was called up by his national team for the African Cup of Nations, which meant he missed all the Saints fixtures in January 2022.

He only played a further 77 minutes that season with 45 of those coming in a 3-1 win over West Ham United in the FA Cup.

His Saints future looked uncertain heading into the 2022-23 season.

Fourth season – 2022-23

As was the case for the previous three seasons, Djenepo began the season as a part of the starting line-up.

He managed an assist for a James Ward-Prowse goal in the 4-1 opening-day loss against Tottenham Hotspur.

Djenepo was then deployed as a left-back in matches against Leicester City, Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers and impressed in the role.

Due to his performances, he earned himself a new three-year deal and was labelled as a ‘role model’ by then-boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, but he soon found himself left out again.

The highlight of his season was a looping finish over Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, in the Saints' 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s side in the EFL Cup - which denied City from winning the quadruple.

Fifth season - 2023-24

The arrival of Russell Martin as the new Saints manager following Southampton's relegation to the Championship presented Djenepo a new opportunity to establish himself as a regular starter.

He did however face tough opposition from Nathan Tella, who had just returned from a successful loan at Burnley, while Sam Edozie, Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Adam Armstrong all looked brighter than the Mali international during pre-season.

The 25 year old featured in all but two of the Saints pre-season friendlies, including wearing the captain's armband for a brief period in their friendly win over Reading.

He played 90 minutes in the 3-1 defeat to Gillingham in the first round of the EFL Cup but did not make an appearance in any of the side's five Championship matches.

Having been left out of the squad for Southampton's 5-0 defeat at Sunderland after the English transfer window had closed Djenepo's time on the south coast appeared to be running out.

That allowed Standard Liege to resign the player they sold to Saints four years ago.

Apon returning to the club that gave him his opportunity in European football Djenepo signed a three-year contract and stated that it felt like he was returning home.