Southampton have confirmed the signing of Adam Lallana on a one-year contract, the midfielder's second spell at St Mary's.
Lallana, 36, will rejoin Southampton after his contract with Brighton & Hove Albion expires at the end of June, ending a four-year stint with the Seagulls.
“I’m still in contact with quite a few of the boys,” Lallana, who first played for Saints in 2006, told the club's official website of his return.
“A lot of the boys have been texting me of late, asking, ‘Is the speculation true?’ Am I going back home? Am I going back to Saints?'
Back where it all began ❤️ pic.twitter.com/D5UxkBCMcc
— Southam(P)ton FC (@SouthamptonFC) June 14, 2024
“Everyone seems pretty excited about it, and no one more than myself and my family.
“I’ve got a good relationship with a few of the players as well. I know Taylor [Harwood-Bellis] well from the Under-21s, I know Sam Edozie, and I was here with Jack Stephens as well, so I’ve been in contact with a lot of the players and I’m pretty sure I’ll settle in fast. I’m experienced enough now with a wise head, so I should bed in relatively quickly.”
Lallana started his career at Southampton, progressing through the Academy from the age of 12 before making his first senior appearance in 2006.
In 2014, he moved to Liverpool, whom he helped claim a first Premier League title in 2019/20 before returning to the south coast at Brighton the following season, where he spent four years.
In total, he has made 291 Premier League appearances, scoring 33 goals and providing 32 assists.
Lallana is Southampton’s first signing of the summer window following their Championship playoff final win and promotion to the Premier League.
He and the Southampton players will learn whom they will face first on their return to the Premier League when the 2024/25 fixtures are released at 09:00 BST on 18 June.
