Southampton have completed the signing of Aston Villa forward Cameron Archer.
The Athletic reported on Friday that the south coast club had agreed to pay £15million plus £2m in potential add-ons for the striker, who joined Villa from Sheffield United earlier this summer.
Archer moved to Sheffield United in the summer of 2023 but returned to Villa a year later under the terms of the initial transfer agreement.
The 22-year-old has signed a four-year contract at St Mary’s.
Archer said: “I’m really excited to be here. I had a good chat with the gaffer. Obviously, he told me everything I needed to hear.
“That was one of the main reasons why I’m here, his playing style, his coaching and trying to improve me as a player. It’s not a bad place to do that in the Premier League with Southampton.”
Head coach Russell Martin said: “Cameron is a really exciting young talent with huge potential to improve, and we’re really delighted to add him to the group in time for our first game back in the Premier League. He’s had a really good pre-season – he’s sharp and ready to go.”
Archer scored four goals in 32 appearances for Sheffield United last season, having previously netted 11 times in 23 games on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.
He previously spent time on loan at Preston North End and Solihull Moors.
Southampton are also close to agreeing a deal for Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu on loan.
Archer becomes Southampton’s tenth summer signing following the arrivals of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes, Ben Brereton Diaz, Nathan Wood, Ronnie Edwards, Adam Lallana, Wellington, Charlie Taylor and Yukinari Sugawara.
The south coast club begin the new Premier League campaign against Newcastle United on Saturday.
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