It’s. Transfer. Deadline. Day. (Finally.)
Following the conclusion of seven Premier League fixtures (at roughly 5 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, be sure to tune in to the live transfer roundup show, on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com.
After agreeing a transfer fee ($21.5 million) on Monday, Southampton announced the signing of Napoli attacker Manolo Gabbiadini as the club’s second deadline-day signing after adding young French goalkeeper Mouez Hassen.
[ MORE: Monday’s transfer rumor roundup | Sunday | Saturday | Friday ]
Italian international striker Gabbiadini was delighted to sign a four-and-half-year deal at St Mary’s.
“I am very, very happy. Since I was a kid, one of my dreams was to perform in one of the biggest leagues in the world, so now that it’s happening I can’t wait to start playing,” Gabbiadini said. “The facilities that I have seen here are an incredible level – top-level standards even for Serie A. These are the sort of facilities that make you want to come here and perform as soon as possible.”
The 25-year-old has spent the last two and a half seasons at Napoli, where he’s been a fairly prolific goalscorer (25 goals in 76 games — all competitions) while deployed largely as a winger.
[ DONE DEALS: All the deadline-day deals done so far ]
Saints completed the biggest signing of an otherwise quiet transfer deadline day.
[ MORE: Four things to look forward to in midweek PL games ]
It was thought Gabbiadini’s arrival could spell the end of Jay Rodriguez’s time at Southampton, though, as minutes have already been a struggle to come by for the 27-year-old, and interest from West Bromwich Albion has persisted. However the Baggies already had a pair of bids rejected and failed in their bid to sign the England international.
