Southampton will hope to strike similar Guly Do Prado gold with £7m star | OneFootball

Saints fans could have another class Brazilian on their hands in Leo Scienza

Southampton will surely be hoping 26-year-old winger Leo Scienza can replicate the impact of another Brazilian who became a cult hero at St Mary's - Guly Do Prado.

Announced on deadline day, Scienza joins Southampton after an impressive spell with FC Heidenheim in the Bundesliga, where he'd already scored three goals in as many games for them across all competitions this season.

Upon arriving in Hampshire, Scienza told the club's website, "I am absolutely motivated, proud and looking forward to getting started.

"The club has ambitious goals and I want to help to achieve them. I have a great feeling ahead of this new challenge and I'm sure we will be successful together," he added.

What Leo Scienza will add to Southampton's promotion push

Saints' capture of Leo Scienza set a new transfer record for German club Heidenheim, with the Brazilian moving to the south coast in a reported deal worth between £7-9 million.

On paper, Scienza's stats from his time at Heidenheim tell the story of a player who thrives under pressure.

The 26-year-old recorded six goals and five assists in 37 appearances last season, but arguably his most memorable moment came in the relegation play-offs — where he scored a 95th minute winner against Elversberg to retain Heidenheim's Bundesliga status.

FCH's sporting CEO, Holger Sanwald, revealed,"Leo played a major role in helping us stay in the Bundesliga last season with that historic goal.

"He wanted to take the next step in his career. The economic sale of this deal was such that we could agree to the transfer," Sanwald claimed.

Starting in Europe with Swedish fifth-tier side Fanna BK, Scienza worked his way up through Schalke's second team, and contributed to 23 goals - scoring 12 assisting 11 - for 3. Liga side Ulm before earning his Heidenheim move.

Southampton's Johannes Spors believes Scienza will hit the ground running in England. "Leo is someone we feel can adapt well to English football. He is a creative player, a progressive dribbler and a strong set-piece taker," Spors explained to the club's website.

Leo Scienza will want to follow the Guly Do Prado success blueprint at Southampton

Guly Do Prado's Southampton career began with a loan move from Cesena that quickly became permanent when his performances proved he was exactly what the club needed.

When the deal was made permanent, Do Prado mentioned "the football and the fans make me happy here and I'm very happy with the new contract." Current Southampton boss Will Still is probably wishing Scienza ends up feeling the same way about his start to life in England.

Being a key part of the Saints' consecutive promotions from League One to the Premier League, the Brazilian finished with 23 goals in 118 games. Some years after leaving, he noted in an interview he "deeply" missed the club and the the fans "were absolutely amazing" to him.

"They stuck by me through thick and thin but also the players, Jose (Fonte) Morgan, Corky (Jack Cork), Jay (Rodriguez), (James) Ward (Prowse), Maya (Yoshida), (Artur) Boruc, Gaston (Ramirez) all the players who played with me in my time there, we had a fantastic group," Do Prado said.

With the club now obviously targeting an immediate return to the Premier League, there might be added pressure on Scienza to deliver quickly.

However, if the winger can channel even a little bit of the magic that made Do Prado such a cult-hero at St Mary's, Saints fans could have another class Brazilian on their hands.