Southampton confirm Zach Abbott loan from Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Southampton have signed 20-year-old defender Zach Abbott on a deadline-day loan from Premier League Nottingham Forest, the club confirmed.

The England youth international is expected to be their final addition of the summer window and to replace Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who has joined Aston Villa for £25m plus £5m in add-ons. It remains unclear whether the deal includes an option to buy.

Abbott said that as soon as he heard Southampton were interested he wanted to come, adding that he has viewed the club as massive since he was young. He has watched them for many years in the Premier League and believes that is where they deserve to be.

“I want to be a winner and win games as much as I can. My promise is that I’ll try my best in everything I can do and work hard every single day so that I can be a benefit to the club and myself.”

Group sporting director Johannes Spors described him as a promising young defender, hungry for Championship minutes and keen to help this season. He said Abbott already has experience of high-pressure matches, will be an important addition to the defensive unit, and that the club are excited to see him develop.

Source: Daily Echo

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