SAINTS have confirmed the imminent exit of four academy youngsters at the end of their professional contracts this month.

Defender Dynel Simeu, 22, full-backs Jake Vokins, 24, and Matt Carson, 19 and striker Luke Pearce, 19, are set to depart.

Southampton-local Simeu signed for Saints from Chelsea with a view to pushing into the first team but never made a senior appearance.

His final season has been blighted by an Achilles injury picked up last summer and the Cameroonian has not played this campaign.

Simeu was named in former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl's matchday squads on several occasions and has over 50 EFL appearances out on loan. 

Vokins, meanwhile, made five appearances for Saints since a debut in the EFL Cup in 2019 but struggled in various loans.

His most recent took him to local National League side Eastleigh under former Saint Kelvin Davis, where he made six appearances this season. 

Pearce was prolific at Premier League 2 level this season, netting seven goals in 11 appearances after returning to the team.

He enjoyed spells on loan in the fifth tier at Eastbourne, Torquay, Weston-Super-Mare and Dover and will seek a permanent contract elsewhere. 

Northern Ireland youth international Carson has made more than 60 appearances for Saints at under-18 or under-21 level.

He spent a brief spell on loan at Braintree Town during the 2023/24 season and has previously drawn interest from the likes of Derby County.