Southampton have officially announced the signing of Lewis Dobing to a four-year contract.

Southampton Town have officially announced the signing of Lewis Dobby. The 23-year-old English attacker has joined Southampton from Aston Villa on a four-year contract. Dobby is capable of playing in multiple attacking positions. He performed admirably during his loan spell at Championship side Preston North End last season, scoring 11 goals in 41 appearances, including two league goals against Southampton. He previously enjoyed loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City, gaining valuable experience in the Championship.  

Lewis Dobby left Everton in 2024 to join Aston Villa. The Everton academy graduate made 15 Premier League appearances for the first team, scoring his first Premier League goal against Chelsea. Born in Stoke City, England, he has represented England U19 nationally multiple times and is capable of playing as a winger, center forward, and second striker. He was one of the most talked-about young attacking players in this summer's transfer window.  

Speaking about joining Southampton, Lewis Dobby said: "I am really excited to be a part of this club. I cherish this opportunity and am very grateful for the trust the club has placed in me. It is a great honor for me to wear the Southampton shirt and play, and I will always be grateful and will never take it for granted."  

“I faced Southampton twice last season, so I know the team very well. They are fully capable of competing in the Premier League, and I believe that joining them will help me continue to grow and further improve my level. I am very happy to be a part of the team and consider this place my new home. I am also eager to get back into training and matches as soon as possible and start a new chapter.”  

“I played quite well in those two games, which undoubtedly boosted my confidence. I was particularly impressed by the atmosphere in the game at St. Mary’s Stadium. Everyone knew that Southampton was going through a difficult period, and we wanted to take control of the game as soon as possible and put pressure on them. In the end, we succeeded in making the game go in the direction we expected.”  

"However, when we faced Southampton again in the final game of the season, I could clearly feel the huge changes in the team. Although the lineup hadn't changed much, the way the team played was completely different. I think this fully demonstrates the manager's coaching ability; he has brought about an impressive change in the team. I look forward to joining such an improving team."  

“When I played against them, I experienced firsthand the intensity of their game. They did an excellent job in high pressing, off-the-ball pressure, and winning second balls, putting us under a lot of pressure throughout the match. Because of this, I am even more convinced that this is a good fit for me. I can imagine myself integrating into this system, and I believe that my characteristics will fit the team's style of play, so I am really looking forward to the new season.”  

“A lot has happened in the past few weeks, and Toda Ekert was the first manager to contact me. He gave me a detailed overview of the club’s future development plans, the team’s current situation, and his expectations of me. After listening to him, I was immediately drawn to his ideas. When I learned that Southampton wanted to sign me, I had already made up my mind.”  

Speaking about the signing, Southampton's sporting director, Johannes Spoelstra, said: "We are delighted to have completed the signing of Lewis Dobby. We are very pleased that he ultimately decided to come to Southampton from among many options. From the first contact the club made with him, we could feel his strong desire to join the team."  

"Although Lewis Dobby is still young, he has already proven his ability through his performances in the Championship. He has outstanding speed, is good at using sprints to break down the opponent's defense, and constantly creates attacking threats for the team. At the same time, he can play in multiple attacking positions, which will further enrich our tactical approach. We look forward to him quickly integrating into the team in the new season and continuing to improve in the future, growing into an indispensable member of the team."  

Image source: Internet/Southampton official website