Wednesday 27 June 2018 11:28, UK
Southampton have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Stuart Armstrong from Celtic.
The 26-year-old has signed a four-year deal, having been at Celtic since February 2015 and helping the club to claim back-to-back domestic trebles.
Capped six times by Scotland, Armstrong began his career with Dundee United, making over 100 appearances for the Terrors.
He went on to win a total of eight major trophies during his time at Celtic and scored 17 times in 2016-17 to force his way into the Scotland set-up, but struggled to replicate that form last season, during an injury-disrupted campaign.
His future at Celtic Park had been in doubt after negotiations over a new contract stalled and he heads to Southampton for a fee believed to be in the region of £7m.
"Southampton seems a really good fit for me," said Armstrong.
"Watching from afar, I really enjoy the attractive football that they play and I'm very happy to be here.
"Every season, I put demands on myself to create and score goals. I hope going forward that it will be the same this term at St Mary's.
"I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and I'm very excited to get started. It's a four-year contract, there will be a lot to learn, and I want to hit the ground running."
Armstrong becomes Southampton's first signing of the summer and manager Mark Hughes said: "Stuart is a player who we have admired for some time and I am delighted we have been able to bring him here, especially given the competition we faced to sign him.
"We have strong players in the squad and it is important we build on that by adding different qualities.
"It is important we add a greater goal threat to the team as a whole, and to our midfield specifically, and Stuart's record of scoring and creating makes him an extremely exciting addition in that area.
"He brings with him extensive experience of European football and has developed his game impressively over the past few seasons at a major club in Celtic, where there is a demand not only to perform but also to win. Stuart has done both during his time there.
"Our research tells us he is an excellent young man, intelligent, and a strong team player, and clearly having another really good character in our group is part of what we want here at Southampton.
"He has shown tremendous drive to improve and has also displayed a great desire to be a part of what we are trying to achieve here, and I believe he will be a real asset to the squad in the years ahead."
