Southampton break transfer record to sign Mario Lemina on five-year deal from Juventus

By Lyall Thomas

Mario Lemina becomes Southampton's record signing

Southampton have completed the signing of midfielder Mario Lemina from Juventus on a five-year contract for a club record fee.

Sky Sports News understands Saints will pay an initial £16m for the 23-year-old, with the deal potentially rising to £20m.

The Gabon international completed a medical with the south-coast club on Monday and adds depth to new manager Mauricio Pellegrino's side.

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"I am really happy to have signed for
Southampton," Lemina said. "I think that it was the project that attracted me the most and the one my family was really behind. I am really happy to be here."
Southampton's vice-chairman Les Reed said: "Mario is an outstanding talent who has already achieved a great deal in his career, winning a number of titles and gaining experience of playing on some of the biggest stages in world football.

"Investing in a player of Mario's quality and buying from a club like Juventus is a significant statement of intent from the club, and this is a purchase that has set another club-record fee.

Lemina was previously at Marseille before joining Juventus

Amid continued speculation over the future of their defender Virgil van Dijk, who handed in a transfer request on Monday, Reed added: "In a volatile market with some extraordinary and inexplicable transfers taking place, we are determined to go about our work in a diligent and correct way."
Lemina started his career in France, with Lorient, before joining Marseille in 2013 and then moving to Juventus in 2015, initially on loan, before completing a permanent transfer last summer.