Southampton’s Ambitious Summer Rebuild: 2022 Transfer Window Analysis
Southampton have entered the 2022-23 Premier League season with renewed determination to reshape their squad and future. After several quiet transfer windows, the Saints have responded with a wave of new arrivals. The summer’s business has been driven by a new leadership structure, with Rasmus Ankersen as sporting director and Joe Shields as head of recruitment. Their focus is clear: inject youth, energy, and potential to build a team capable of thriving under Ralph Hasenhüttl’s high-tempo style. Below, we examine Southampton’s summer transfer activity and what it could mean for the upcoming campaign.
Strategic Shift Towards Youth Development
A noticeable trend in Southampton’s recent transfer activity is their commitment to bringing in emerging talent. Last year’s additions of Tino Livramento and Armando Broja (on loan from Chelsea) were influential in helping the Saints secure Premier League status. Learning from these successes, the club has doubled down on youth by recruiting a new wave of promising players. Hasenhüttl’s trademark pressing system demands elite work rate and adaptability—qualities often found in younger players not yet ingrained in alternative playing styles. The acquisition of talents such as Roméo Lavia and Joe Aribo highlights the club’s ambition to solve tactical challenges with hungry, moldable professionals.
Strengthening the Goalkeeping Department: Gavin Bazunu and Mateusz Lis
One of Southampton’s first signings of the summer was Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City’s academy. Although Bazunu developed at City, his most recent experience came on loan at Portsmouth—ironically, the Saints’ archrival—where the 20-year-old goalkeeper played 44 out of 46 league matches in League One. During that spell, he improved his save percentage from 61.2% at Rochdale to an impressive 73.4% at Portsmouth. His standout performances also earned him first-choice status for the Republic of Ireland, including a memorable showing against Portugal during World Cup qualifiers, where he recorded an 85.7% save rate over seven games.
With Fraser Forster departing for Tottenham, Southampton needed additional depth between the posts. To provide competition, they brought in 25-year-old Mateusz Lis from Turkish club Altay SK. Standing 6’3”, the Polish shot-stopper boasted a 74.1% save rate, including two penalty saves and seven clean sheets last season, and recorded one of the highest total saves in the Turkish top flight. Lis’s quick reflexes and shot-stopping ability make him more than capable of challenging Bazunu for the starting position and ensuring healthy competition throughout the season.
Defensive Reinforcement: The Arrival of Armel Bella-Kotchap
Southampton have further underlined their commitment to youth with the signing of Armel Bella-Kotchap from VfL Bochum. At just 20 years old, Bella-Kotchap brings Bundesliga experience and a reputation for aggressive, proactive defending. Featuring primarily as a centre-back, he excels at stepping forward to apply pressure and capitalizing on his imposing 6’3” frame. His numbers last season included a 35% pressure success rate and a 59.1% tackle success rate, ranking him among the top young defenders in Germany. Additionally, he averaged 3.27 interceptions per 90 minutes, highlighting his strong anticipation.
Despite these defensive strengths, Bella-Kotchap’s abilities in possession remain a work in progress. Last season, he was among the lowest-ranked centre-backs in Europe’s top leagues for metrics such as progressive passing and pass completion, partially due to Bochum’s limited possession approach. Nevertheless, his youth and determination could allow him to develop these areas and bring increased stability to Southampton’s backline as the season progresses.
Roméo Lavia: Investing in Midfield Potential
Adding to the influx of young talent, Southampton secured Roméo Lavia from Manchester City’s youth system. Despite being only 18, Lavia arrived for a reported £10.5 million fee with potential add-ons, underlining the club’s faith in his ability. He has drawn attention as a deep-lying midfielder with a strong positional sense, making himself available and supporting ball retention. While Lavia has so far made just a single senior appearance, he fits the mold of a defensive-minded ‘number six’ who could slot alongside James Ward-Prowse in Hasenhüttl’s favored 4-2-2-2.
Lavia also stands out for his accurate long-range passing, intelligent ball circulation, and defensive discipline—qualities that make him a prime candidate to compete with Oriol Romeu for a starting spot. His versatility could also be valuable if Southampton revert to a three-man midfield during the campaign.
Sékou Mara: A Promising Attacking Addition
Saints moved decisively to sign Sékou Mara, a talented 19-year-old forward from Bordeaux. Mara made an immediate impact in Ligue 1, averaging a goal every 150 minutes and ranking high among peers for shots on target per 90 and overall attacking pressure. In 26 appearances last season, he scored six goals and excelled at working wide to receive the ball, demonstrating the adaptability needed to thrive in Southampton’s dynamic attacking formation. His sharp movement and ability to maintain accuracy under pressure mark him as one to watch as he develops further in English football.
Joe Aribo: Versatility and Experience Boost the Attack
Perhaps the most established addition to the squad is Joe Aribo, who joins after a successful spell at Rangers that included 21 goals and 18 assists over three seasons. Aribo’s flexibility is a significant asset: he has excelled as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, right winger, and striker. Expected to feature as a right-sided attacking midfielder or part of a three-man midfield, Aribo combines creativity with defensive industry. Last season, he completed 34.4% of his defensive pressures and created 1.9 chances per game, ranking near the top of the Scottish Premiership in both metrics.
Aribo’s attacking qualities—his runs behind defenses, ability to finish with both feet, and excellence in dribbling and aerial duels—make him the type of multi-dimensional player Southampton have lacked in recent years. His knack for carving out scoring opportunities could play a central role in elevating the team’s creativity and goal threat in the Premier League.
Conclusion: A Promising New Era at St. Mary’s
Southampton’s 2022 transfer window marks a bold new chapter for the club, blending ambitious recruitment with a clear focus on youth development. By bringing in experienced professionals like Rasmus Ankersen and Joe Shields to lead the club’s sporting direction, the Saints have set the stage for sustained progress. While the new arrivals will need time to settle, the varied mix of potential and experience—highlighted by Bazunu, Lavia, Bella-Kotchap, Mara, Lis, and Aribo—gives fans reason to be optimistic after several years of decline.
With these reinforcements in place, Southampton aim to improve on their 15th-place finish last season, hoping that fresh faces and renewed ambition can power the club into a stronger position in the Premier League pecking order for the 2022-23 campaign and beyond.
