AFTER A BREAKTHROUGH season at St Mary’s Ireland striker Michael Obafemi has been rewarded with a new three-and-a-half-year contract.
The Dubliner was recruited from Leyton Orient in 2016 and rapidly developed through the Saints’ academy, breaking through into Southampton’s senior side midway through last season.
The 18-year-old made his debut against Tottenham in January 2018, becoming the second-youngest player to feature for the club in the Premier League, and has made greater strides under Ralph Hasenhüttl this campaign.
Obafemi netted his first senior goal in December’s 3-1 win at Huddersfield, registering himself as the youngest ever senior Irish international to score in the Premier League.
The striker made his senior Ireland debut towards the tail-end of last year, brought on as a second-half substitute in Aarhus by Martin O’Neill during a Uefa Nations League game against Denmark.
“It’s a good day. I’m happy that it’s done and now I’m looking to move forward,” he said on Wednesday.
“I’ll always be thankful to the club for sticking by me, and I just want to show everyone what I’ve got. I’m determined to show the fans and everyone at the club why I’ve been given a three-and-a-half-year deal.”
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