Southampton transfers: Sulemana joins in record deal - Onuachu also completed

This article has been updated with new information. 

Southampton have signed Kamaldeen Sulemana. According to a report by The Athletic, the 20-year-old Ghana national team forward is set to arrive from Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais in a deal worth up to €25 million plus €3m in add-ons. Sulemana will be the most expensive signing in Southampton’s history once he hits his add-ons (overview).  Sulemana will sign a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Saints. In addition to Sulemana, the club has also signed Paul Onuachu. According to Belgian outlet HLN, Genk will receive €18m plus €3m in add-ons.

Transfermarkt can also confirm a report by Fabrizio Romano, that Southampton have beaten out Bundesliga side RB Leipzig and Premier League competitor Everton to sign the forward, who can play on both wings and also as a center-forward. Signed for €17m from Nordsjaelland Sulemana is the fifth most expensive departure in club history, just ahead of Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy. 

“Sulemana needed a change,” Transfermarkt Area Manager Ronan Caroff said. The striker started well for Stade after joining the club in the summer of 2021, scoring four goals and two assists in his first 19 Ligue 1 games. Caroff explained that he struggled after he was called up to the AFCON in January 2022. “Sulemana was only a super sub this season, and he brought some frustration to fans, for example, costing the win in a game vs Fenerbahçe in Europa League with some risky dribbles in his own defense (3-3).”

Rennais make profit on Sulemana – Onuachu also set to join Southampton?

Despite the frustration that Sulemana was not able to live up to his expectations in France, there is a sense of relief now that the club will at least make a profit on the transfer. “He was a big prospect, and at least the club managed to turn a profit despite having him under contract for just 18 months,” Caroff said. 

Southampton, in the meantime, will hope to get the most out of a young forward who previously has scored 14 goals and eight assists in 43 games across all competitions for Nordsjaelland. The Saints are currently last in the EPL standings and are desperate for goals, as only Everton has scored fewer goals (15) than the club from Southampton (17). 

With Southampton struggling for goals, it made sense that the club not only added a winger in Sulemana but also a typical striker in Onuachu. A deal to sign the 28-year-old forward from Genk appeared to be difficult earlier on Tuesday but the two sides found a solution just in time before the window shut on Wednesday morning.