Southampton: Theo Walcott signs as Saints complete five transfer deals

Southampton have confirmed the signing of Everton forward and former Saints academy graduate Theo Walcott on a season-long loan deal.

The deal was officially announced by Saints on Monday evening after updates and coverage of the different stages of the transfer throughout the day.

Walcott has slipped down the pecking order at Everton and is said to have been very keen to get back to the South Coast to play first-team football.

Saints are also said to value his experience – both in football and after coming through the Saints youth system – and he will play a part in helping the young players in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad.

Walcott joins Mohammed Salisu, Kyle Walker-Peters and Ibrahima Diallo through the door at St Mary’s and adds an extra bit of attacking quality to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad.

The first deal to be confirmed by Saints during the afternoon was the departure of young 20-year-old defender Christoph Klarer who joined Fortuna Dusseldorf on a four-year contract.

The young Austrian did not make an appearance for the first-team at St Mary’s and moves to the 2.Bundesliga outfit in the hope of breaking into senior football under the management of former Saints player Uwe Rosler.

Then came three more departures of players who had appeared at senior level for the club.

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Defender Wesley Hoedt’s move to Lazio was confirmed after a long and drawn out process, and the former Netherlands international moves to Rome on an initial loan deal with an option to buy for a reduced fee at the end of this season.

Hoedt has made 45 appearances for Saints but his £14m move to the club never really worked out and his performance proved that he was not up to Premier League standard.

Sofiane Boufal’s move to Angers SCO was secured and he moves back to the club in France where he began his career eight years ago.

Saints’ official statement confirmed that they retain a sell-on clause for the Moroccan despite him leaving on a free transfer to Ligue 1.

Perhaps the most expensive transfer failure in recent times was also resolved on Monday as striker Guido Carrillo departed for Spanish side Elche.

The Argentine signs for his new side on a free transfer and pens a two-year deal after making just 10 appearances for Saints in all.

After costing £19m when he was brought in from Monaco, his time at St Mary’s cannot be considered a success.

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn is also expected to leave the club on a loan deal but that could be completed between now and 16th October when the window for transfers between English clubs concludes.