Southampton’s five most expensive departures include Club World Cup victor and Sócrates Award winner

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Southampton have been active in the Premier League so far this summer as they look to win promotion back to the Premier League immediately.

The Saints had a terrible season in the English top flight last year, as they were under threat of becoming the worst team to ever compete in the Premier League, based on points; however, they surpassed Derby County’s 11-point tally.

Will Still has begun work with his squad as pre-season is underway, bringing in some fresh faces to revitalise the squad while bidding farewell to some players that are surplus to requirements.

While none of them have been for high fees, Southampton have seen players leave for huge money previously.

EFL Analysis brings you the five most expensive sales Southampton have ever made, according to Transfermarkt.

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5. Tino Livramento – £32.2 million

Tino Livramento starts this list, as he was sold to Newcastle United in the summer of 2023.

The young England international impressed in his first season with the Saints, but his time with Southampton was halted as he suffered an ACL injury in April 2022.

Newcastle decided to take the risk on the player after he made a return to first-team football with Southampton in May 2023.

He was highly sought after despite this injury, with Newcastle willing to pay the fee, and he has gone from strength to strength since.

4. Luke Shaw – £32.5 million

The full-back opted to leave Southampton for Old Trafford in the summer of 2014, after two impressive seasons with the Saints in the Premier League.

Shaw played a total of 66 matches across the two seasons of senior football he had at the club.

Manchester United opted to spend £32.5 million on Shaw when he was just 19, demonstrating the belief they had in his potential.

He has gone on to lift a number of trophies with Manchester United and has been part of England at several competitions.

3. Sadio Mane – £35.7 million

Sadio Mane was impressive in a Southampton jersey for a number of seasons, as he scored 25 goals across 75 matches for the Saints.

Liverpool would then sign the Senegalese international as they built a squad that would go on to lift the Champions League and the Premier League.

Southampton had to bid farewell to the forward but made it worth their while, as they got £35.7 million for the player.

Mane has since gone on to play in Germany with Bayern Munich, and now he is at Al Nassr.

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2. Romeo Lavia – £54 million

The Belgian did not spend long at Southampton before he would be acquired for £54 million by Chelsea in the summer of 2023.

Romeo Lavia only managed a season in the team at Southampton after joining from Manchester City.

However, he was impressive for Southampton in the season and had a big impact with the Saints, as he featured in 34 matches across all competitions.

1. Virgil Van Dijk – £75 million

The most expensive sale Southampton have ever made is Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool for £75 million.

This acquisition by Liverpool was seen as transformative for the club and has heralded in this current successful period in England and Europe.

He impressed while at Southampton after joining from Celtic, as he joined in 2015 before leaving in January of 2017.

Van Dijk played a total of 80 matches across two and a half seasons with Southampton in the Premier League.