Southampton have signed Chile international Ben Brereton Diaz from Villarreal on a four-year contract.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at Sheffield United last season, scoring six goals in 14 Premier League appearances.
“Watching the club when I was younger, it was always in the Premier League," Brereton Diaz told the official club website.
"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.”
Who is Ben Brereton Diaz?
Brereton Diaz was born in on Stoke-on-Trent on 18 April 1999. He qualifies to play for Chile through his mother, who is from Concepcion.
He played at youth level for Manchester United and Stoke City before moving to Nottingham Forest. He made his senior debut in 2017 before joining Blackburn Rovers on loan ahead of the 2018/19 season, with the move being made permanent in January 2019.
Brereton Diaz enjoyed four successful seasons with Blackburn, scoring 45 goals in 144 league appearances before joining LaLiga side Villarreal in the summer of 2023.
He featured 20 times for the Spanish side across all competitions, but failed to score a goal, before joining Sheff Utd for the second half of the 2023/24 season.
After representing England at youth level, Brereton Diaz made his senior debut for Chile in 2021. He has been capped 33 times for his country, scoring seven goals.
What type of player is he?
Following confirmation of Brereton Diaz's move to Southampton, manager Russell Martin said: "He’s 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.”
Southampton's 2024/25 transfer activity
It's been a busy summer on the south coast, with Brereton Diaz becoming the club's 10th senior signing, after Adam Lallana, Rento Takaoka, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Charlie Taylor, Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, Yukinari Sugawara, Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki.
Matsuki joined from FC Tokyo earlier on Tuesday and will spend the 2024/25 season on loan at Goztepe in Turkey.
When might Brereton Diaz be in action for Southampton?
Southampton continue their pre-season preparations at Oxford United on 31 July. They begin their Premier League campaign with a trip to Newcastle United on Saturday 17 August.
