Southampton have completed the signing of Ben Brereton Diaz from Villarreal.
The Athletic reported earlier this month that the 25-year-old striker was in talks to join the south coast club in a transfer worth in the region of £7million.
The Chile international 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,” Brereton Diaz said after his arrival.
“Obviously last season, the way the team played, they went down but they bounced straight back up as a team. Also the gaffer as well — everything has aligned together, and I think it’s an amazing club. I can’t wait to get started.”
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.
“He is a strong, powerful runner and a confident finisher with a good goalscoring record, including last season’s spell in the Premier League in which he adapted to the level extremely quickly.
“He is a proper team player and the sort of hard-working, hungry character we want in our squad. His athleticism and physicality makes him a great fit for the Premier League, and we think he has all the tools to add to our attacking options.”
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.
The striker 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 playoffs.
Russell Martin has made a number of additions ahead of his side’s 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.
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