Southampton have officially announced the signing of George Long to a two-year contract.

Southampton Football Club has officially announced that goalkeeper George Long has signed a two-year permanent contract and officially joined the team. The 32-year-old goalkeeper previously joined St. Mary's Stadium on loan from Norwich City and has now made the move permanent after completing one season.  

During the 2025/26 Championship season, George Long was an important member of Southampton's goalkeeping team, making the matchday squad multiple times and earning a first-team appearance in the FA Cup, helping the team defeat Leicester City in the semi-finals.  

As an experienced goalkeeper, he has made more than 300 appearances in English professional football, and has played for several teams including Sheffield United, Hull City, Millwall and Norwich City.  

After setting his sights on 2028, George Long said: “I am very happy. I came here on loan last year, and I am thrilled to have completed this permanent transfer. These will be two exciting years. I hope that next season we can achieve what we couldn’t achieve last season and get promoted.”  

“We have the ability, a united dressing room, and a manager who turned things around mid-season. If we continue to play like we did last season, I believe we will always be competing at the top of the table. This is not an unfamiliar environment for us. We know our style of play and how to win in the Championship. Just continuing our performance from last season will be enough. This will give the team confidence because we are not starting from scratch. Everything is clear, and the key is to realize it in the game.”  

As a key member of the goalkeeping team, 32-year-old George Long believes his value lies not only on the pitch but also in his crucial role in the dressing room, actively taking on the responsibility of guiding his teammates. He said, "I've played a lot of games, so I've experienced almost every situation in English football, whether it's title contention, relegation battles, or mid-table play."  

“I think a lot of people on the team come to me for advice or to hear my opinions. I’m also happy to help my teammates when needed, to give them encouragement and support. I enjoy this role. To be honest, this is one of the best locker rooms I’ve ever been to; the overall atmosphere is excellent.”  

Image source: Internet/Southampton official website