Southampton paid £12m for him before Middlesbrough promotion - he's still playing at 35 | OneFootball

Southampton broke their transfer record to sign Gaston Ramirez from Bologna before the Uruguayan shone for Middlesbrough

Southampton recorded back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League under Nigel Adkins in 2012, and subsequently broke their transfer record on a player who would go on to shine for Middlesbrough.

Southampton, under the former leadership of Adkins, went from League One in 2010 to the Premier League in 2012 after recording two promotions on the spin in a historic couple of years for the South Coast outfit.

The Saints were looking to retain their place in the top flight by any means possible, and subsequently looked towards the transfer market for fresh faces who could make a solid impact in the Premier League.

Nathaniel Clyne joined from Crystal Palace, Maya Yoshida from VVV-Venlo, Jay Rodriguez from Burnley, and Steven Davis from Rangers, each of whom would go on to have a lasting impact at St Mary's.

However, none of those broke their transfer record that summer, as that accolade would go to a player who would go on to shine for Middlesbrough instead.

Southampton spent £12 million to make Gaston Ramirez their then-club record signing from Bologna in 2012

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Southampton broke their transfer record in the summer of 2012 to sign Uruguayan attacking-midfielder Gaston Ramirez for around £12 million from Italian side Bologna.

Ramirez was 21 at the time of his arrival on the English South Coast, having excelled in his native Uruguay for Peñarol and then in the Italian top flight for Bologna, scoring eight and assisting six in 33 league games for the Emilia Romagna-based outfit.

It was hoped that, upon his arrival, Ramirez would continue his excellent form from the Serie A into the Premier League, and further improve his game because of his age.

However, things wouldn't exactly go to plan for Ramirez, who would struggle to have the desired impact at St Mary's as those at Southampton would have hoped.

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Ramirez would come on as a half-time substitute to make his debut for Southampton in a 6-1 away defeat to Arsenal, and would make his full debut the following fixture at home to Aston Villa, grabbing an assist in a 4-1 win.

He'd net his first goal for the club in a 3-1 away defeat to Everton in his third game, as the Uruguayan enjoyed a strong personal start to life in Hampshire.

However, that would not last, as Adkins would leave Southampton in January 2013, replaced by Mauricio Pochettino, as Ramirez would fall out of favour under the future Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and United States boss, whilst injuries would not help his case.

By the summer of 2014, Ronald Koeman assumed control at St Mary's, as Ramirez remained out of favour, heading out on loan to Hull City for the 2014/15 campaign to little success, before a loan move to Middlesbrough in January 2016 followed, as Ramirez quickly became a hero on Teesside.

Middlesbrough would sign Gaston Ramirez on loan from Southampton in 2016

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In January 2016, Middlesbrough found themselves battling for promotion from the Championship, as Aitor Karanka looked to utilise the winter window to his advantage, bringing in the likes of Jordan Rhodes, Julian De Sart, Ritchie De Laet, as well as Ramirez.

Boro looked to take advantage of his situation at Southampton, knowing that if they could get the Uruguayan up to form, they could have a real coup on their hands, and a coup it proved to be.

In 18 Championship games, Ramirez scored seven and assisted four, including important strikes against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers, and Birmingham City, as Karanka's side just pipped Brighton and Hove Albion to the second automatic promotion place by goal difference.

Without Ramirez, Boro almost certainly would have fallen short, and though his permanent move in the summer would not yield similar success, the Uruguayan's heroics will always go down in significant importance on Teesside.

Gaston Ramirez is still playing in his native Uruguay at 35

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Following his spell at Middlesbrough, Ramirez returned to Italy with Sampdoria, followed by stints with Monza and Virtus Entella.

He would head back to South America in 2023 with Argentine side San Lorenzo, before returning to Uruguay with Penarol, Miramar Misiones, and now, at 35, with Boston River, where he still plays to this day.

The 43-capped Uruguayan would not live up to the hype expected of him with Southampton, though Middlesbrough supporters will always remember his contribution to their famous promotion from the Championship, as Ramirez's time in England endured both highs and lows.