Victor Wanyama's
long-mooted move to Southampton has been completed, with the midfielder leaving
Celtic for a Scottish record fee reported to be £12million.
After overcoming an
apparent impasse in discussions, the highly-rated 22-year-old has put pen to
paper on a four-year deal at St Mary's.
The Kenyan later
tweeted: 'I have a day of mixed emotion. Happy to play in EPL, honored to be
the first Kenyan to play in EPL. But also very sad to leave Paradise.
Wanyama's move therefore
dwarfs the £9.5million Spartak Moscow paid Celtic for Aiden McGeady three years
ago and sees it become the largest fee ever paid in Scottish football, breaking
Rangers' long-standing record £12million outlay for Tore Andre Flo.
Until recently it had
looked like a move to the south coast had collapsed over personal terms,
leading to suggestions of issues with his representatives.
However, manager
Mauricio Pochettino some time before, had not given up on the deal and Wanyama
now becomes Saints' second signing of the summer, following the £8.5million
purchase of Lyon's Dejan Lovren.
'It feels great and I am
happy to be here,' Wanyama said 'Finally it has happened and we've come to the
end [of negotiations], so I am delighted.
'There were other
options, but Southampton is a club with ambitions so I chose to come here.
'Southampton is a good club and it has good players, so I just want to train hard and work hard to be a part of the starting XI. We'll see where that will take me.
'Southampton is a good club and it has good players, so I just want to train hard and work hard to be a part of the starting XI. We'll see where that will take me.
'I'm very grateful to be
here and I'm looking forward to playing in the Premier League.
'I've seen that the
stadium is great and the dressing room is looking good, and I know some of the
players. I hope they will help me and I think I will get along with the others,
so it will be good.
'I am happy to be a part
of Southampton's squad. It means a lot because because it has been my dream to
play in the Premier League and now I am here.'
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