Southampton have completed the signing of Shane Long from Hull City for a reported £12 million. The Irish international striker has signed a four-year deal at St. Mary's and leaves the Tigers after just half a season.
Shane Long moves to Southampton
Southampton have spent an eye-watering £12 million to sign Shane Long from Hull City.
Jan Kruger
OFFICIAL: #SaintsFC has completed the signing of @HullCity striker @Shanelong009 on a four-year contract. #SaintShane pic.twitter.com/Dm38i6Pumc
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 14, 2014 £12m is a quite extraordinary price for Long, who's a perfectly serviceable Premier League striker but not the sort who's going to net 20 goals a season. He's scored 23 goals since moving to the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion back in 2011, which is hardly a top-notch return.
Granted, he's never played at a team of Southampton's quality before, and it's perfectly possible he'll fare excellently at St. Mary's this season. Strong in the air and a fine finisher, the 27-year-old is a pretty good option to use if Graziano Pellè goes the way of a fair few unsuccessful Eredivisie exports of the past.
However, he’s going to have to have by far the best season of his career if he’s to justify that price tag.
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