Southampton sign Downes from West Ham after successful loan spell

Southampton person signed midfielder Flynn Downes connected a imperishable woody from West Ham.

The 25-year-old returns to St Mary’s for their first play backmost successful nan Premier League aft a successful indebtedness spell past term.

Downes made 37 appearances for nan Saints successful nan Championship successful 2023-24, scoring doubly arsenic he helped them seal promotion via nan play-offs.

He has now made his move to nan South Coast a imperishable one, penning a four-year deal.

“We’re thrilled to bring Flynn back,” said head Russell Martin. “It was a large privilege for america this summertime and to get it done early successful pre-season is besides really important for us.

“He was specified an influential subordinate for america past season, some connected and disconnected nan pitch.

“He’s a superb character, he’s fierce and beingness successful his play, technically fantabulous pinch nan shot and a awesome jock too.”

SAINT Flynn 🙏

We are delighted to denote nan imperishable signing of Flynn Downes:

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 16, 2024

Downes made 35 appearances for nan Hammers aft joining from Swansea successful 2022.

He added: “Being a portion of it past year, it was truthful good. The full club, nan people, I deliberation everything astir it is truthful special.

“I consciousness for illustration erstwhile you link pinch group for illustration that, specified genuine people, and I’m talking astir nan full nine here, it’s truthful difficult not to want to beryllium a portion of that.”

Downes is Southampton’s seventh signing of nan summer, joining nan likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Yukinari Sugawara and Adam Lallana successful Martin’s side.