Southampton sign Ben Brereton Díaz from Villarreal

Southampton have secured the signing of forward Ben Brereton Díaz from Villarreal CF, committing him to a four-year contract.

Brereton Díaz, a 25-year-old forward born in Stoke-on-Trent, has a rich history in English football. He began his career at Nottingham Forest, earning the Championship Apprentice of the Year award in 2017.

Following a loan move to Blackburn Rovers in 2018, he made a permanent switch to Ewood Park. Over five years in Lancashire, he netted 47 goals in 177 appearances, including an impressive 38 goals over the last two seasons.

Brereton Díaz has represented England at the Under-19 and Under-20 levels. His performances at Blackburn caught the eye of the Chilean national team, qualifying through his mother.

Making his international debut in 2021, he has scored seven goals in 33 caps and played in the recent Copa América. His standout performances earned him the title of Chilean Footballer of the Year in 2022.

Last summer, Brereton Díaz joined Villarreal. He returned to England on loan with Sheffield United in January, scoring six goals in 14 Premier League matches.

Expressing his excitement, Brereton Díaz stated, “I’m absolutely buzzing. It’s been smooth these past couple of days, and I’m happy to get everything sorted and signed. I’m really excited to meet everyone, it’s great to be involved with this great club."

"Watching the club when I was younger, it was always in the Premier League. Obviously last season, the way the team played, they went down but they bounced straight back up as a team. Also the gaffer as well – everything has aligned together, and I think it’s an amazing club. I can’t wait to get started.”

Southampton’s manager, Russell Martin, welcomed the new signing, saying, “I’m really delighted to welcome Ben to the group. He’s a versatile and intelligent footballer, capable of playing in a number of positions across the forward line."

"He is a strong, powerful runner and a confident finisher with a good goalscoring record, including last season’s spell in the Premier League in which he adapted to the level extremely quickly. He is a proper team player and the sort of hard-working, hungry character we want in our squad. His athleticism and physicality makes him a great fit for the Premier League, and we think he has all the tools to add to our attacking options.”

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