By
OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
Southampton have completed the deal of Ben Brereton Diaz from Villarreal in a transfer worth around £7million ($9m).
The 25-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Sheffield United, where he scored six goals in 14 Premier League appearances.
“Watching the club when I was younger, it was always in the Premier League,” the Chile international said after his Southampton moved was confirmed.
Southampton head coach Russell Martin added he was “delighted” to sign a “versatile and intelligent footballer, capable of playing in a number of positions across the forward line”.
Having begun his career at Nottingham Forest, Brereton Diaz moved to Blackburn Rovers in 2018 and scored 47 goals across five seasons at Ewood Park.
He joined Villarreal last summer but did not score in 20 first-team appearances for the club, before joining Sheffield United on loan in January.
Southampton are back in the Premier League after earning promotion back at the first attempt via the play-offs.
Southampton have made a number of additions ahead of their return to the top flight including making Taylor Harwood Bellis’ and Flynn Downes’ temporary moves permanent and adding veterans Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor on free transfers.
