Southampton bring in Chelsea defender on permanent deal

Southampton have signed Chelsea defender Dynel Simeu on a permanent transfer, with the England youth international returning to his home club.

Born in Cameroon, Simeu grew up in Southampton after moving to England as a young child and the 19-year-old has gone on to appear for England up to Under-19 level.

The 19-year-old wrote on Twitter on Monday: ‘Unfortunately it’s time to say my goodbyes to @chelseafc. I have spent 6 great years at the club. Grown from a young boy to a man.

‘I would like to express my gratitude to the Chelsea staff for giving me a platform to become a professional footballer. Teammates who have become very good friends. Supporters who have followed my journey. However I am ready to begin a new challenge else where.’

The official Chelsea website states: ‘We thank Dynel for his time at the club and wish him well in the future.’

Simeu’s contract at Chelsea came to an end at the end of last season, but the defender will not be an entirely free signing for the Saints.

A fee of £1.5m has been agreed, report Goal.com, with the teenager signing a three-year contract at St Mary’s and promised a far more direct path to the first team than was available at Stamford Bridge.

Simeu spoke of his admiration for Southampton earlier this year, telling Chelsea’s media team: ‘I came from a Sunday league team in Southampton and with my background, I didn’t know many footballers and didn’t even know how Chelsea Academy worked, I thought playing here was unrealistic.

‘I admired Portsmouth and Southampton because that’s all I knew, I always dreamed of becoming a footballer but my family and I never thought it was realistic, then when I got the chance everything happened quickly and it was unbelievable.’

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