Southampton sign Archer for £15m and Ugochukwu on loan
Archer (left) could play against Southampton on Saturday but Ugochukwu was not registered in time
- Published
Southampton have signed striker Cameron Archer from Aston Villa for £15m and Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu on loan.
Archer, 22, has signed a four-year deal at St Mary's and leaves Villa despite only returning from Sheffield United last month.
The England Under-21 international rejoined Villa after the Blades' relegation from the Premier League last season triggered a buy-back clause, but they have now decided to sell him again.
Ugochukwu, 20, joins on a season-long loan.
He signed for Chelsea last season in a £23.2m deal from Rennes but played just 15 times in an injury-hit campaign.
Excited to be here - Archer
Archer said: “I'm really excited to be here. I had a good chat with the gaffer [Russell Martin]. Obviously, he told me everything I needed to hear.
“That was one of the main reasons why I'm here, his playing style, his coaching and trying to improve me as a player. It's not a bad place to do that in the Premier League with Southampton.
Archer joined Sheffield United for £18m last summer and scored four goals - including one in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park - as the Blades finished bottom of the league.
He had loan spells at Preston and Middlesbrough while at Villa, where he made 14 appearances - although just two starts - in his first spell, scoring four times.
The forward has joined Southampton in time to travel for their Premier League opener at Newcastle on Saturday.
Easy decision - Ugochukwu
Ugochukwu, who has represented France at under-21 level, was not registered in time to make the squad for Southampton's opening game.
"[Joining Southampton] was a very easy decision," he said.
"They just came back to Premier League. When I heard Southampton, when I spoke to the gaffer as well, I said, 'I have to come here'.
"I'm just here to work hard and give everything for the fans and for myself as well."
The Saints have signed several players, including Ben Brereton Diaz, Nathan Wood and Ronnie Edwards, after promotion from the Championship last season.