Saints have signed Irishman Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City on a five-year deal following an impressive season out on loan at third division side Portsmouth FC.
Southampton have paid City an initial fee of 12 million pounds to sign the 20-year-old custodian, with add-ons bringing up the total to potentially 15 million. Meanwhile, the Citizens have inserted a buy-back clause in the deal, allowing them to repurchase the youngster back from the South Coast side later.
Bazunu will replace the departed Fraser Forster in the Southampton squad; the Englishman joined Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer earlier in the window. He will compete with veteran Alex McCarthy for the starting spot with former Chelsea and City goalkeeper Willy Caballero providing backup to both.
Saints have also completed a deal to sign free agent Mateusz Lis. The Poland international joins the team after a year with Turkish outfit Altay SK.
Meanwhile, Leeds United have made Bayern Munich’s Marc Roca their third signing of the window. The midfielder joins the Whites in a reported 10 million pounds deal for the next four years after failing to break into the Bayern first team over two seasons; Roca made just 24 appearances for the Bavarians between 2020 and 2022.
Roca claimed Leeds manager Jesse Marsch to be one of the key reasons for his switch in his first interview with the club before profiling himself as an on-the-ball central midfielder.
“He [Jesse Marsch] encouraged me to come here, and I can’t wait to start working with him. I think we can do good things! My favorite position is a midfielder, I like to play with the ball and to be strong in defense, always helping the team.
The fans can expect me to give my everything. I am a player who loves playing with the ball, but I am hard as well in defensive duels.”
he said.
Roca follows Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen through the Elland Road door. Leeds completed a double deal to sign the RB Salzburg duo earlier in the window, reuniting the pair with Marsch.
