Southampton have secured the services of defender Jan Bednarek from Lech Poznan. The Premier League side have reportedly splashed £5m to rope in the player. The Poland U-21 international has been signed on a five-year deal and is the first signing of the Mauricio Pellegrino era.
The Saints have been chasing the player for a while and now that the player has been signed, Pellegrino will be able to shift his focus onto the other aspects of the team. Les Reed, who happens to be the head honcho of club development was very impressed with the player and it was his initiative that brought the player to the St Marys.
Year after year, Southampton have produced some of the most high-profile players and Bednarek could follow the suit. The Polish defender is unlikely to be thrust into the starting lineup from Day 1 and will be given the time to acclimatise himself with the conditions of the Premier League.
Bednarek’s arrival will be something of a respite for the Saints who have long been in the market for defensive reinforcements following the departure of Jose Fonte and Martin Caceres. The Saints might also lose Virgil Van Dijk who has been the in-demand defender.
Bednarek is a typical Southampton signing as the club has always emphasised on the signing of young players. He is energetic, promising and is full of potential. The idea of engineering his move from the Polish club will be seen as an exemplary move by the club.
The 21-year-old started his career with Poznan and has been with the club apart from a loan move. The teenage defender is currently enjoying a vacation after he appeared in the U-21 European Championship for Poland and is set to join the pre-season camp in July.
Bednarek revealed his happiness having signed for the club. “I am so happy that I could join a club like Southampton. This is the moment I have worked for that makes my dreams come true. It only gives me motivation to work hard, to show my skills and to help Southampton to get better and better.”
Bednarek is a player of very high quality and has the appetite for success. Southampton will be able to provide him with ample opportunities which he has been craving for some time. The teenager will add depth to the defence which has been already enriched with players like Maya Yoshida, Jack Stephens and Van Dijk.
Bednarek will face stiff competition from Stephens who recently signed a new five-year deal with the Saints to extend his stay after announcing his arrival last season.
