Why Southampton’s £12m Finn Azaz signing will prove to be a bargain amid promotion push

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Southampton signed attacking midfielder Finn Azaz from Championship rivals Middlesbrough this summer, and he is poised to inspire the Saints’ title charge.

Southampton endured a turbulent time in the summer transfer window with several marquee additions, and high-profile exits.

In terms of departures, Southampton lost Tyler Dibling to Everton and Mateus Fernandes joined West Ham to see their two prized assets return to the Premier League.

Despite those two big-money moves, there was an array of quality added to Will Still’s squad this summer, which has primed the Saints for a promotion push.

The pick of the Southampton bunch has to be the £12m capture of Middlesbrough attacking midfielder Finn Azaz, and that lofty eight-figure fee should prove to be a bargain by May.

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Finn Azaz is Southampton’s most important summer signing

Southampton signed Azaz last week for an initial £12m fee, with £3m in potential add-ons taking the total to a possible £15m move.

Since arriving at Boro in the January window of 2024, the Republic of Ireland international cemented himself as one of the most prolific attacking midfielders that the Championship has to offer.

In the 2023/24 season, Azaz notched double figures for goals and assists between his time at Plymouth Argyle then at Middlesbrough.

Azaz took that standout form into last season by registering 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 Championship outings for Middlesbrough, who failed to finish in the play-off places under Michael Carrick.

With Fernandes and Dibling departing, the goalscoring and creative void in the final third of the pitch was glaring for Southampton, and Azaz will certainly succeed in filling it.

As well as Azaz, Southampton signed Tom Fellows from West Brom and the Saints beat Paris FC to Leo Scienza, but the former Boro star is not only the best attacking addition at St Mary’s, but is undoubtedly their signing of the summer overall.

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Finn Azaz shares Will Still’s Southampton ambition for 2025/26

After his £12m move from Middlesbrough to Southampton was announced, the 24-year-old made no secret of his promotion ambitions with the Saints this season.

Azaz told Southampton’s media: “Well, I’m established at this level. However, this is a lot more expectation.

“The expectation is to win the league. That should be the expectation looking at the squad, looking at the size of the club, the manager.

“Me and him spoke about it that the expectation, you know, and what we should be doing is winning the league.”

Still, Southampton and Azaz are all aligned on their connected ambitions of achieving promotion to the Premier League this season.

The £12m man’s goalscoring prowess over recent seasons and technical ability not only soften the blow of losing Dibling and Fernandes, but are poised to spearhead Southampton’s title charge in Still’s first season at the helm.

Although the fee shelled out for Azaz’s services is significant, it will pale in comparison to the riches of top flight promotion that he is set to help Southampton secure come May.