Feyenoord captain Jordy Clasie has signed a five-year deal with Southampton after passing a medical on Wednesday.
Clasie had been the top target for Southampton manager Ronald Koeman as he looked to fill the void in his squad left by Morgan Schneiderlin's move to Manchester United, with the capture of the 24-year-old midfielder something of a coup for the south coast club.
The fee, sources say, has been set at ₤8.5 million, with an up-front payment of ₤7 million before add-ons in the contract could inflate the final figure.
Clasie: "I hope that I have many good moments and good years here." #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/8br2jc71k9
- Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 15, 2015
"It feels good and everyone told me it is a very warm club," Clasie told the Southampton website. "This all feels good to me."
Feyenoord received offers from several clubs for Clasie this summer, with his agent Weeze Berg suggesting earlier this week that he was favouring a move to link up with his former manager Koeman at Southampton.
Koeman gave Clasie his chance to make his mark in the Feyenoord first team as he made his way through the ranks at the Eredivisie club, with his rise over the last four seasons resulting in a call-up to the Dutch national team squad.
At 5-6, Clasie will be one of the more diminutive players in the Premier League, but Koeman is confident that his former protege has the physical ability to adapt to the demands of the English game.
Clasie is the fifth signing completed by Southampton this summer following the arrivals of Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Portugal defender Cedric Soares, FC Twente defender Cuco Martina and Spanish forward Juanmi.
Koeman has been promised the bulk of the money from the sales of Nathaniel Clyne to Liverpool and Schneiderlin to United as he looks to bolster his squad ahead of a season that will include Europa League football.
