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DONE DEAL: Saints seal Stekelenburg loan

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STEKELENBURG IS LOOKING TO REVITALISE HIS CAREER

Southampton have signed Maarten Stekelenburg from Fulham on a season long loan deal.

The Dutch international has been bought in to provide cover for first choice ‘keeper Fraser Forster, who is sidelined with a knee injury sustained against Burnley in March.

Stekelenburg becomes Southampton’s third summer signing, after striker Juanmi and defender Cedric Soares joined last week.

This is the 32 year old’s second successive season on loan, after spending the entire 2014/15 campaign at AS Monaco.

He started his career under current Saints boss Ronald Koeman at Ajax

The experienced goalkeeper, who played in the 2010 World Cup final for the Netherlands, is looking forward to playing in the Europa League next season.

“I’m very pleased that I’ve joined,” Stekelenburg said.

“It’s a big, nice club that will play European football – and I can play. Last year I didn’t play a lot, so it’s an opportunity for me. I’m grateful.

”The last two years weren’t the best of my career. As they say in England: the best is yet to come.”

Executive director of football Les Reed said that Southampton had beaten off stern competition to secure the player’s services.

“Maarten is a goalkeeper with a wealth of top-level experience who will prove to be an important addition to the squad at this early stage of pre-season,” Reed told the club’s official website.

“While Fraser Forster’s rehabilitation is progressing well, adding Maarten to our squad alongside Kelvin Davis and Paulo Gazzaniga will give us strength in depth for what will be a busy season.

“Maarten enjoyed tremendous success in Holland with Ajax and on the international stage, playing in the 2010 World Cup final. His experience will be invaluable to us, especially with the arrival of European football.

“There was strong competition for Maarten’s services, so we are very pleased he has committed to our cause.”

By Joseph Richardson

@Jj147Joseph

 

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