3 Southampton Academy Players Who Could Break Through This Summer | OneFootball

Another pre-season, another opportunity for youngsters to step up

Tonda Eckert’s short stint as Saints under-21s manager likely gave him valuable hands-on experience with many of the up-and-coming prospects currently at Staplewood. Senior regulars Jay Robinson and Cameron Bragg are prime examples of Eckert’s faith in the youth setup.

The Championship regularly provides academy prospects with the platform to flourish. With Southampton aiming to retain Eckert as head coach, his track record of youth development makes it likely that younger players will step up.

The Saints will have to strengthen with fresh signings. But another season in England’s second tier limits their expenditure. This upcoming pre-season provides a meaningful opportunity for youngsters to seize a chance in senior football.

1. Joachim Kayi-Sanda (19)

The 19-year-old was signed from French side and sister club Valenciennes last January. A fee of €5 million signalled his potential. While he made his Premier League debut that same season, the French centre-back was out of the picture under manager Will Still. As a result, a summer loan to Red Star FC was intended to provide valuable senior minutes. This was, however, cut short due to a lack of gametime, making only five appearances in the league.

In the new year he returned to Southampton, having an immediate impact for the under-21s. He picked up 12 starts in 12 games for Adam Lallana’s side, accumulating over 1100 minutes in four months. He operated as a comfortable ball-playing centre-back, similar to his role in possession at Valenciennes, averaging 82 successful passes per 90 in the Premier League 2. Standing at 6″1, his physicality combined with his ability on the ball makes him a unique prospect.

Another Championship campaign may provide Kayi-Sanda with his clearest pathway into the senior setup.

With Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ future up in the air, Southampton will likely need another central defensive option. Especially since fellow defender Joshua Quarshie had a mixed bag of a campaign. Racking up just 13 Championship appearances, six of which were under Eckert, the young German could resort to a loan move for his development. It’s an opportunity for Kayi-Sanda to impress this pre-season.

This year, Cameron Bragg repaid Eckert’s trust with reliable performances. It led to his most senior appearances in a single season (22). Sanda could follow a similar path of operating within the squad, filling in whenever needed.

2. Nicholas Oyekunle (19)

This season marked Oyekunle’s entrance into senior football. Three league appearances were accompanied by a brief cameo in the FA Cup. While he amassed just one shot in those appearances, his work ethic off the ball was evident.

This summer could provide him with an opportunity to settle. His goalscoring prowess has been a key factor for his consistent step-ups within the youth setup. Just two years ago, he scored 31 goals in 30 games for the under-18s. Last season, he made the full step upto the under-21s, amassing 13 goal contributions.

He’s of a similar profile to Southampton striker Cameron Archer.

Archer has failed to solidify himself as the central option for the Saints. Often due to the style of play requiring hold-up capabilities from the striker, the 25-year-old lacks the physicality to carry it out. Nick Oyekunle would likely face these same issues. However, Adam Armstrong endured brief success under Eckert, dropping deeper in an attempt to lose his marker (creating space behind for others to exploit) rather than backing into the defender and engaging physically.

If Oyekunle features in pre-season, this is a potential way he could operate. As well as that, pairing him up top alongside a target profile could allow him to focus on remaining on the last line of defence – where he’s naturally most effective in behind.

He has recently signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2028.

3. Barnaby Williams (19)

The 19-year-old made his senior debut this season, coming off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday. It was Tonda Eckert’s second game in charge, highlighting the impact Williams had on Eckert while he was in charge of the under-21s.

There were glimpses of promise as Williams put on a well-rounded performance against the Owls. He won 50% of his duels while making three defensive recoveries. This led to him being called upon against Leicester, where he played a critical part as Southampton won 2-1, with a heavily rotated side.

Williams did, however, miss the end of the under-21 campaign. His last appearance in March (against Nottingham Forest) meant he failed to appear in the Premier League 2 playoffs. The Saints were eventually knocked out in the round of 16.

Like Oyekunle, Williams signed a new deal this season.

Pending an FA investigation, Tonda Eckert is set to keep the reins at St Mary’s. Southampton Football Club are known for their youth development – and Eckert has proven he’s willing to maintain this tradition.

Pre-season is an increasingly successful period for Southampton’s youngsters. From the likes of Tyler Dibling to Jay Robinson, it’s a valuable opportunity for players to have a lasting effect on the upcoming season’s squad and transfer decisions.