Southampton transfer news: Lille midfielder Sofiane Boufal signs for club-record £21m transfer on a five-year contract
SunSport reported last week Boufal would join the Premier League before the transfer deadline and Southampton have just made it official
SOUTHAMPTON have signed midfielder Sofiane Boufal from Lille on a five-year contract for a club-record £21million transfer fee.
The Ligue 1 club agreed last Thursday the transfer of Boufal to the Premier League when the Saints offered to break their record transfer fee.
The 22-year-old Moroccan international has been told he will be allowed to leave this summer after a spectacular breakthrough campaign that saw him score 12 times in his first full top-flight season.
SunSport reported last week both clubs had agree a fee for the transfer of Boufal before the window shuts.
Saints boss Claude Puel recognised his talent early and wanted to reinforce his attack.
Southampton are the tenth Premier League club to break their transfer fee this summer.
Manchester United's £89m world-record transfer of Paul Pogba and Christian Benteke's £32m move to Crystal Palace were the two big ones.
Champions Leicester agreed £16m for Ahmed Musa and Yannick Bolasie left Selhurst Park for £25m to Everton.
The other six were Bournemouth with Jordon Ibe's £15m arrival from Liverpool, Watford with £13m for Isaac Success.
And Andre Ayew moved to West Ham for £20m, Burnley completed Steven Defour's £7.5m deal and West Brom are set to follow as they agreed £15m for Spurs' Nacer Chadli.
Boufal’s ability and skills are a pleasure to watch and it is exactly what Puel needed to compensate the £30m departure of Sadio Mane to Liverpool.
SunSport last week told you all about Boufal.