Southampton confirm Gavin Bazunu signing from Man City

Business

Southampton have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City.

Bazunu spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at League One Portsmouth, where he performed well enough to clinch the club’s player of the season award.

Despite being just 20, he has also already earned 10 Republic of Ireland caps too, making his debut back in March 2021.

As 90min reported earlier this month, Southampton had long been expected to secure Bazunu’s signature, and Saints confirmed his arrival on Thursday.

Speaking to Southampton’s official channels, Bazunu said: „I’m delighted to be here. It’s been in the works for a few weeks and I’m really happy that we’ve got everything over the line, and I’m just excited to see what’s ahead.

„I feel like it’s a place I can come and develop and learn my game. The biggest thing is opportunity – the fact that I can come here and have a chance to play regular football. Just to be given that opportunity to fight for my place is the biggest thing that I could’ve asked for.“

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl added: „As a club, we are always on the lookout for young talent and Gavin is a very exciting addition to the squad. We believe he has tremendous potential to improve and will give us great competition for places in the goalkeeping department.

„He is a goalkeeper with a very modern style of play, comfortable in the build-up phase, who has developed physically through some very important loan moves early in his career.

„He is already an international goalkeeper, which is very rare for his age. Coming from Manchester City, we know he has learned from some of the very best coaches and teammates, and coming here gives him more opportunities to develop his game through playing in the Premier League.“

90min understands that Bazunu is costing Southampton £15m in total once add-ons have been taken into account.

The Irishman will be aiming to usurp Alex McCarthy as the club’s number-one goalkeeper this season, following Fraser Forster’s departure to Tottenham.

For more from Matt O’Connor-Simpson, follow him on Twitter