SAINTS have confirmed the signing of centre-back Nathan Wood from Championship Swansea City on a four-year contract.

The England under-21 international becomes the fifth summer arrival, following in the footsteps of Adam Lallana, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Charlie Taylor and Ronnie Edwards.

Wood, 22, will be reunited with Russell Martin at St Mary’s, the manager who signed him for Swansea from Middlesbrough in 2022.

Saints will pay Swansea a fee of just £3million for Wood's services, having acquired Edwards from Peterborough bfor the same initial fee this week.

On the prospect of playing in the top flight for the first time in his career, Wood said: “It’s obviously a massive club.

"A Premier League club that was in the Championship last season, and to get straight back into the Prem is a big thing. I’m very happy to be here.

“It’s always been an attractive club. Obviously the style of football is a big thing, the coaching is a big thing, and it’s a step up in leagues for me as well.

“It’s a no-brainer really when you put all those things together. It’s quite an easy decision to make.”

Hailing from the North East, Wood progressed through the youth ranks at Middlesbrough and played 14 times for the first team.

He then made the move to south Wales to work under Martin, where he made 72 appearances for the Swans in two seasons.

Martin added: “Nathan is a player I know and trust from our time together at Swansea, and someone I also tried to sign in my first job at MK Dons.

"He’s a top defender with tremendous physical qualities, great pace and calmness on the ball. What’s equally important to us is that he’s a great character.

"He will settle in seamlessly with the brilliant group we already have here. He’s hungry to prove himself in the Premier League, and we want to help him achieve that.”