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Southampton: Rating Saints’ 58 signings since 2012 promotion – Part 1

By Marc Walker

BARNSLEY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Emmanuel Mayuka of Southampton celebrates his goal during the Capital One Cup Second Round match between Barnsley and Southampton at Oakwell Stadium on August 27, 2013 in Barnsley, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
BARNSLEY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Emmanuel Mayuka of Southampton celebrates his goal during the Capital One Cup Second Round match between Barnsley and Southampton at Oakwell Stadium on August 27, 2013 in Barnsley, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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Steven Davis of Southampton (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Steven Davis of Southampton (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

2012/13

Gaston Ramirez (£13m from Bologna) – 4/10

55 appearances for Saints in all which saw him contribute five goals and five assists.

Not the impact that the club would have wanted – especially with the fee – but he did chip in with a few important goals in the first season back in the top-flight.

Jay Rodriguez (£7m from Burnley) – 9/10

Struggled to get going in his first season but became one of the best forwards in the league under Mauricio Pochettino.

Just breaking into the England squad having scored 17 goals in 2013/14, but prevented from reaching his full potential with that terrible knee injury.

Emmanuel Mayuka (£3m from BSC Young Boys) – 2/10

Not a good one. Scored just once in 19 games for Saints, but at least he seemed to try hard and actually played, unlike some…

Vegard Forren (£3m from Molde) – 1/10

Saints fans waited for what seemed like an age to see their new centre-back in action after his leading role in a successful time for Molde.

However, just six months after his January arrival, he was on his way back to Molde and causing a £1m+ loss for Saints. One of the weirdest transfers that has ever been made at St Mary’s.

He also signed for Brighton back in 2017, but was again on his way back to Norway just five months later.

Nathaniel Clyne (£2m from Crystal Palace) – 8/10

When you consider the price and then the 104 games he played for Saints at a very high level, Clyne was an excellent buy as a modern day, attacking full-back.

Also earned Saints £10m in profit when he became one of the many players to move from the South Coast to Liverpool.

Paulo Gazzaniga (£2m from Gillingham Town) – 3/10

Now showing a more mature head and better displays for Spurs, but the Saints form of Gazzaniga was certainly a shaky goalkeeper who was far too young for the Premier League at that stage.

Played 23 times for the first-team but kept just three clean sheets in the process.

Maya Yoshida (£2m from VVV-Venlo) – 9/10

The only reason Yoshida’s rating is not a 10 is that he took so long to become a Premier League level defender.

As he adjusted to the English game though, 194 appearances in red and white saw him eventually become a fans’ favourite and wear his heart on his sleeve whenever he played.

Steven Davis (£900k from Rangers) – 10/10

Not a vocal leader but a player who led by example – just what Saints needed as they came up to the Premier League.

When you consider that he cost Saints just under £4,000 per appearance, he really was a bargain.