Southampton re-sign Romeu for rest of season

Oriol Romeu was released by Barcelona in the summer after spending last season on loan at former club Girona

Southampton have re-signed Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu for the rest of the season.

The 34-year-old spent seven years at St Mary's between 2015 and 2022, playing 256 games before leaving for La Liga side Girona.

Romeu has been a free agent since leaving Barcelona in the summer, having returned to the Spanish giants, where he began his career, in 2023. He was loaned back to Girona last season.

Saints are without a manager after Will Still was sacked on Sunday but won 2-1 at QPR on Wednesday night.

"In all aspects, I feel lucky to be back, and I feel also motivated to push as much as I can," Romeu told the club website.

"I've felt just around the club and even around the city how much respect and love I'm getting. It's special.

"There is nothing else than gratitude to that and also the willingness to give them back that love with good games, with good performances, with professionalism, respect.

"That's my goal right now, because when you have that reaction from everyone, it just says a lot and you just want to give it back."

Romeu began his career in Barcelona's famous La Masia academy but made just two appearances under Pep Guardiola during his first stint with the senior team in 2010-11 before moving to Chelsea.

His time in London featured loan moves to Valencia and Stuttgart as injury also hampered his game time at the club.

Yet at Southampton he became a regular, scoring eight goals and being part of the sides that qualified for the Europa League for the first time in 12 seasons and reached the EFL Cup final in 2017.

"Ori has a special connection with this club and adds a wealth of experience into the group," added Southampton's group technical director Johannes Spors.

"He understands the importance of his influence off the pitch as much as on it and will play a vital role in terms of the culture we want to instil throughout the squad."