Southampton pay Bundesliga side record fee for new defender | OneFootball

Southampton have announced they have completed the signing of Armel Bella-Kotchap.

The 20-year-old has joined from Bundesliga side Bochum, who have received a club record fee for a sale with his departure, multiple reports in Germany put at €11 million.

Bella-Kotchap has signed a four-year deal at St Mary’s and is the third signing of the summer after Gavin Bazunu’s arrival from Manchester City and the acquisition of Mateusz Lis.

“He is a player who fits our profile very well and has a huge amount of potential, but with the number of senior games he has already played he can help us immediately,” Ralph Hasenhüttl told the club’s website about the new arrival.

“I think he has made the perfect choice in wanting to join us and we will now work with him to make sure he reaches his potential both for himself and for the team. We already have some very strong options in defence and Armel adds more attributes to that list.”

The Germany underage international made 26 Bundesliga appearances last season as he helped Bochum comfortably avoid relegation.