Southampton’s most expensive signings of all time as Will Still targets Premier League promotion
Southampton are hoping to make an instant return to the top flight after their relegation to the Championship in 2024/25.
A new era has dawned on St Mary’s this summer, after Will Still was appointed by Southampton in the wake of their relegation from the Premier League.
In Still’s first season in charge since switching from RC Lens, the Saints are targeting an instant return to the Premier League, and as such, the club has already been busy in the summer transfer window.
Southampton are chasing “tremendous” Man City ace Juma Bah, who could reunite with former Lens boss Still following his breakout loan stint there in Ligue 1.
In the early predictions for the 2025/26 Championship, Southampton have been tipped for promotion, and ahead of their campaign, EFL Analysis has taken a look at the club’s most expensive signings of all time.
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Five most expensive Southampton signings of all time
After Still’s arrival at Southampton, he made clear his intentions for the season ahead, with a top flight return in the crosshairs.
Still told Southampton’s media: “I’m eager to get to work this summer and start building a close-knit group that can make everyone proud and ultimately get us back to where we belong; in the Premier League.”
Ahead of the 2025/26 season, we have taken a look at the five most expensive signings in Southampton history.
5. Jannik Vestergaard from Borussia Monchengladbach – £18m
Southampton beat West Ham United to the signature of central defender Jannik Vestergaard in the summer of 2018 for a fee of £18 million.
Since arriving from Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Danish defender featured 79 times for the Saints across three seasons in the Premier League.
Vestergaard’s physical presence saw Leicester City shell out a similar fee for his services in 2021, where he has remained since his St Mary’s departure, and was part of the Foxes’ relegation squad this season.
4. Guido Carrillo from Monaco – £19m
Southampton’s fourth most expensive signing to date is for Guido Carrillo, after his £19m move from Monaco in 2018.
However, his signing would prove to be a poor addition by the Saints, with the Argentine forward failing to find the net in 10 games during his debut season at Southampton.
In the following campaign, Carrillo joined Spanish top flight side Leganes on loan and then permanently. His move has proven to be one of the biggest flops in recent Saints history.
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3. Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City – £20m
Third on the list is defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who completed a £20 million move to Southampton from Manchester City last summer.
The Englishman was pivotal in Southampton’s Championship play-off winning campaign in 23/24 under Russell Martin, and as a result of the promotion, became a permanent Saints star.
Harwood-Bellis featured 34 times in the Premier League for Southampton last term, but could not help to stave off relegation despite his best efforts.
2. Danny Ings from Liverpool – £20m
In the summer of 2019, Southampton shelled out an initial £20 million fee for Liverpool forward Danny Ings, after his solid season-long loan spell at St Mary’s.
English international Ings scored seven goals in 24 appearances for the South Coast side, and in his two seasons as a permanent Southampton player, would score 38 times in 75 games.
As a result of his prolific form, Aston Villa paid £25 million for Ings ahead of the 2021/22 Premier League, where he would fail to rediscover his goalscoring prowess that was so successful for Southampton.
1. Kamaldeen Sulemana from Rennes – £22m
Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana remains the club-record fee after his £22 million move to Southampton from Rennes in the January window of 2023.
Sulemana’s fee exceeded that which Southampton shelled out for Ings, as he arrived when current Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones was in charge.
Since his Saints move, Sulemana has scored only four goals in 74 outings within the Championship and Premier League, but has proven himself to be a very capable attacker.
Given his 20 caps for the Ghanaian national team, Sulemana is certainly a capable player, and one who could rejuvenate his Southampton career next season under Still’s guidance.
