Updated at 16.29
SHANE LONG HAS officially joined Southampton from Hull after completing a reported £12million (€14.9m) move today.
The Ireland striker leaves Hull after only signing for them last January, subsequently scoring four goals in 15 appearances for the Tigers.
Southampton are currently undergoing a rebuilding process, after several stars including Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana left Ronald Koeman’s side during the summer, with others expected to follow Long through the entrance door at St Mary’s before the summer transfer window closes.
Speaking following the news, the striker told the official Saints website:
“I’m delighted. This came out of the blue for me but, once I’d come and had a look at the training facilities and met the manager, it seemed like the right decision for me and my family.
“It was a hard decision for me to make, but when you come down to Southampton you see how big a club it is and how well set up it is.
“You look at how well they did last season and they are developing a new squad for this year to try and achieve those accomplishments again, and hopefully I can be a big part of that.
“Southampton play a brand of football that’s enjoyable to watch, and I’m sure it’ll be enjoyable to play in as well. I think the formation they play will suit me, and the manager has a lot of knowledge about football and I’m looking to learn off him.”
Manager Ronald Koeman added: “Shane is a very good player. As a striker, he’s different to Graziano Pellè, which is something we needed.
“He brings ambition and a great mentality — he’s always running and always working, and he’s very down-to-earth. He’s a great person, and we need that type of player.
“He brings a lot of experience to our squad because he’s already played at Premier League level for a few years. He knows what we need at this level, and he can show that to our younger players as well.
“Shane will be an important player for us and our future.”
Unbelievable money for a striker who doesn’t score goals , Remy was costing 8 mill
Long has a good all round game, but he can be a serious bottler in front of goal. Great business by Hull.
Remy has put on some belly though. Long doesn’t get enough credit for his work off the ball but his striking is very poor at times, but you never know he could improve as he’s hitting his peak soon
Great business by Hull City.. I hope Longs wife is ok with it tho as she was so upset with the last transfer..
Poor her. It must be hard being a footballers wife.
.. being a footballers wife.. In Hull tho
I can imagine she will be a lot happier with this transfer, as Southampton has a lot more going for it than Hull. It’s also on the South Coast, so it will be a lot warmer, and loads of beaches nearby, so happy days for Mrs Long.
Southampton is a bit of a hole to be honest.
Still, I’m sure the wag will be delighted now she’s only an hour away from London and harrods etc.
From what I recall she didn’t want him to leave WBA. So Hull must be crap.
Won’t be shredding too many tears for Mrs Long, but it must be a pain in the are for his daughter changing schools 3 times in a year.
I’m sure she’d prefer somewhere in Spain or Portugal
2 and a half hours actually
Good player but he ain’t worth a fraction of that. He must be laughing all the way to the bank. His scoring record is poor. But he always gives 100% to be fair to him.
I give 100% if somebody wants to buy me for 12 million. People used to say the same about Kevin Doyle until he was found out..
To be fair he’s got a rate of about 1 in 4 which is good considering the clubs he’s played with, Reading, Hull and West Brom. He could really flourish at Southampton
Good luck to him,starting on Saturday.
Hope he has a quiet day on Sunday against Liverpool though.
In fairness he was never comfortable playing in the Kilkenny colours !!!!!
Good business by Hull bagging 4 million from the player . Long needs to get his head in the right place now and get his scoring boots on , this is a real make or break move for him . He either starts delivering consistently now or it will be into the realms of Kevin Doyle . Best of luck to him
I think this just could be a perfect fit for Long, best of luck to him and the Saints.
The new Robbie Keane in every sense of the word….
Yes Robbie keane is only just the all time top international footballer still currently playing.
It’s always been a dream of Shane’s to play for Southampton.
For your 12 mill you’ll get 5 goals and 4 months of injury
He’s going be the new Robbie Keane , more clubs than Rory Mc Ilroy !
Robbie Keane was successful at Wolves, Coventry, Leeds, Tottenham Hotspur (both times), Celtic and LA Galaxy. His spells at Inter, Liverpool and Villa are less noteworthy but Keane is a proven, prolific goalscorer. Get him in the box with a half decent supply of ball and he’ll do the business. While he traveled around a bit, his successes far outweigh his failings. It’s a bit insulting to the man to compare him to Shane Long, who is a decent enough striker at best with a high work rate but a susceptibility to injury.
Robbie Keane was Aston Villas player of the year, how is that not noteworthy?
Agree with evertyhing you said about robbie till you mentioned his stay at villa… His goals against wolves kept us up. Short term loan massive effect
Sorry, gents, scratch Villa.
Shane “Notgonnabe” Long….
Great guy hope he finishes his career hurling for Tipp again.
Good luck to him,sound lad
If Keane scored that many goals for any other country be hero. Just don’t get what more he could of done for Irish fans that moan about him
Not a bad player but considering javier hernandez is available for the same kind of money it doesn’t seem like Southampton have done well with this transfer!
Hernandez turned down Saints as he wanted a club playing in Europe.
Touch of the Robbie Keane about this chap’s transfer history…
Love Long Time
I must be worth at least 100k so
Looking at that,Sanchez was a steal for the gunners
He’s only worth half that. Southampton are desperate and under pressure to make signings after their summer exodus. Or maybe Long will actually start converting chances…