Southampton have completed the permanent signing of midfielder Flynn Downes from West Ham United for a reported £18m.
The 25-year-old spent last season on loan with the Saints and proved to be an influential part of the club's promotion-winning team from the Championship.
Downes started 35 of his 37 appearances for Southampton in 2023-24, including a start in their playoff final triumph against Leeds United at Wembley Stadium.
The midfielder had returned to West Ham and linked up with Julen Lopetegui's pre-season squad in Austria this month, but he made a swift return to the United Kingdom to undergo a medical and finalise his permanent move back to Southampton.
Downes has put pen to paper on a four-year deal until June 2028 and becomes Southampton's eighth signing of the summer transfer window after Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Yukinari Sugawara, Nathan Wood, Ronnie Edwards, Charlie Taylor, Rento Takaoka and Adam Lallana.
The Brentwood-born midfielder departs boyhood club West Ham after making a total of 35 appearances during his first season at the club in 2022-23, including eleven outings in the Hammers' run to the Europa Conference League title.
The moment... 🥹
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 16, 2024
He's back and he's ours 🥰 pic.twitter.com/tfpwljhb62
Downes delighted to join "special" Southampton
Speaking to Southampton's official website about his permanent move, Downes said: "It feels so good, honestly. Walking in this morning, seeing a few familiar faces, it was a real pleasure.
"Being a part of it last year, it was so good. The whole club, the people, I think everything about it is so special.
"I feel like when you connect with people like that, such genuine people, and I'm talking about the whole club here, it's so hard not to want to be a part of that.
"Now I just feel like I can fully settle down here, try and get better, try and play my best football here and help the team be a success."
Manager Russell Martin added: "We're thrilled to bring Flynn back. It was a big priority for us this summer and to get it done early in pre-season is also really important for us.
Sleep easy, Russ 💤😅 https://t.co/U2mj5Gttmy pic.twitter.com/Ce4oZoAZxP
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 16, 2024
Martin: 'Downes is more than ready for Premier League transition'
"He was such an influential player for us last season, both on and off the pitch. He's a brilliant character, he's aggressive and physical in his play, technically excellent with the ball and a fantastic athlete too.
"He built really strong relationships with the rest of the players and the staff, and I think you could tell the connection he created with the fans throughout last season, so I'm sure everyone's delighted at the news.
"I know how excited and hungry he is about making the step up to the Premier League with us, and he's someone who I really believe is more than ready for that transition and who can also continue to develop even more with us."
Downes will now reunite with a number of familiar faces at Southampton for pre-season, before preparing for the club's opening Premier League game of the 2024-25 season away against Newcastle United on August 17.
Oliver Thomas
