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Southampton’s record signing: Mario Lemina player profile

By Ben Whitlock

ROME, ITALY - MAY 14: Mario Lemina (C) with his teammates of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on May 14, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images )
ROME, ITALY - MAY 14: Mario Lemina (C) with his teammates of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on May 14, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images ) /
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Southampton FC broke the club’s record transfer fee for the second time in as many seasons after signing Mario Lemina from Juventus in a £16 million deal, with the fee rising to £18 million.

The Gabonese international joins the Saints on a five-year deal, having played at Italian champions Juventus since 2015.

The central-defensive-midfielder started his career in France at the age of 11 with the youth academy at Lorient.  His only season with the club was in 2012-13, where he made 14 appearances.

In the summer of 2013, Marseille bought Lemina from Lorient for €4 million. He had to wait until 2014-15 for his breakout season with Marseille, as he helped the team achieve a fourth place finish in Ligue 1, gaining 23 league appearances.

Saints originally showed interest in Lemina in the summer of 2015, but on the last day of the transfer window he joined Italian giants Juventus on a season long loan for €500,000 with an option to buy for €9.5 million at the end of the 2015-16 season.

Next: Southampton 2017/18 season predictions

TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 20: Mario Lemina (L) of Juventus FC is challenged by Giuseppe Rossi of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and ACF Fiorentina at Juventus Arena on August 20, 2016 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 20: Mario Lemina (L) of Juventus FC is challenged by Giuseppe Rossi of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and ACF Fiorentina at Juventus Arena on August 20, 2016 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) /

It took Lemina only three appearances to open his goal scoring account for Juve, as he scored a consolation goal in a 2-1 away loss to Napoli.

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in April 2016, Juventus signed the midfielder permanently, as he penned a four year deal worth €9.5 million, plus an extra €1 million for if performance related targets were met.

The 23-year-old left Juventus to join the Saints with two Serie A league titles and two Coppa Italia titles, scoring three goals in 29 appearances, one of which in the 2017 Champions League Final.

Lemina shares a playing style with fellow Saints teammate Oriol Romeu, but with a slightly more attacking mindset. The Gabonese international’s main strengths are winning the ball back from the opposition and turning defence into attack, as well his strength and versatility.

During his five-year professional career, Lemina has also been used for defensive duties as both a centre-back and right-back on different occasions.

It is still not known whether Mario Lemina will be part of the squad that will face Swansea in Saints’ first game of the season at St Mary’s on Saturday at 3:00 pm.