SAINTS have completed the signing of French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.

The 20 year old arrived at Stamford Bridge from Rennes for a significant fee last summer and made 15 appearances in his first season - 12 in the Premier League.

A graduate of the highly-respected Rennes academy, Ugochukwu made his debut shortly after turning 17 in 2021 and played 60 games in total for the first team.

A current under-21 international, he also played twice for France’s Olympic team in the lead up to the summer Games in Paris.

Standing at six-foot-three-inches tall, Ugochukwu is an impressive athlete who specialises in winning the ball back for his team.

On joining Southampton, Ugochukwu said: “I feel very happy. Southampton has a great history.

“A lot of great players came over here and played for Southampton, so I'm very happy to be part of the team now.

“It was a very easy decision. They just came back to Premier League. When I heard Southampton, when I spoke to the gaffer as well, I said, 'I have to come here.'

“I’m just here to work hard and give everything for the fans and for myself as well.”

Manager Russell Martin added: “Lesley is a brilliant athlete who has all the ingredients to be a really top player in the future.

"We want to help him achieve that. He combines his size and power with real composure in possession.

“He’s another young player we’ve brought in who has sampled the Premier League already, which is important.

"He is someone we feel can help us in the midfield area with the physicality that he brings to the game.”