Leo Scienza reacts as Oriel Romeu breaks silence on 'new chapter' after Southampton | OneFootball

The former Saints midfielder has announced his new club for the 2025/26 campaign

Southampton legend Oriol Romeu made an emotional return to St Mary's midway through last season to provide some experience and depth under Tonda Eckert.

The 34-year-old was one of the more underrated parts of the Saints' side that finished sixth in the 2015/16 campaign and eighth the following year, while making the final of the FA Cup, too, after arriving for just £5 million from Chelsea.

He'd make over 250 appearances at St Mary's before departing in 2022, returning to Spain to sign for Girona. One year later, he'd be bought by La Liga giants Barcelona, playing for the club he came through the academy in.

After his release from Barça last year, though, he found his way back to Southampton, who were battling relegation at the time. His return was announced four days after Will Still was sacked.

Romeu only made six Championship appearances last year, five of which came in the first six games he was available for. Saints' strength in depth in midfield areas made it nearly impossible for the 34-year-old to break in past the likes of Casper Jander, Flynn Downes, Shea Charles and even youngster Cameron Bragg.

His contract wasn't renewed at the end of the season, but now the Spaniard has found a new club ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Leo Scienza reacts as Oriol Romeu signs for Avispa Fukuoka

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Romeu was a free agent for the better part of four months last year before he re-signed for Southampton. This time round, though, he's found a new club ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

The 34-year-old has signed for Japanese outfit Avispa Fukuoka ahead of the new J-League campaign starting on August 7.

writing, "Really excited to start this new chapter with Avispa Fukuoka. Let's have fun together!" and among the Southampton players who liked the post was Leo Scienza.

The wideman enjoyed a brilliant debut campaign at St Mary's following his summer move from Bundesliga side FC Heidenheim, scoring seven and assisting 10 in just 30 Championship starts, and providing plenty of Man of the Match displays, most notably in their FA Cup upset over Arsenal.

Romeu will be looking to provide similar experience from his time in elite European leagues for his new side, who are hoping to better their 12th-placed finishes from the last two seasons. The year before, they finished seventh in the J-League and lifted the J-League Cup, too.

Southampton may miss the veteran presence of Oriol Romeu next season

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The reaction from Saints players to Romeu finding a new club ahead of next season just shows how well thought of the Spaniard is not only in the stands at St Mary's, but in the dressing room, too.

The midfielder rarely saw the pitch last season, nor did he get into matchday squads regularly, so, understandably, Southampton were happy to let him leave to go and get as much out of the final few years of his playing career as possible.

But, in terms of having someone who has been part of Saints squads that have been in European races in the Premier League at St Mary's and clearly loves the club, he'll be hard to replace in the squad.

Southampton are still in a period of real uncertainty with less than two weeks remaining until they open their new season at Colchester United in the EFL Cup. The outcome of the FA's charges against Tonda Eckert is still to be seen, and there's speculation that the manager could be banned just weeks before the campaign begins.

If that does end up being the case, the Saints, who are already at a disadvantage with a four-point deduction to begin the year, could find themselves even further behind in a campaign where promotion is a demand to keep the likes of Scienza at St Mary's for the foreseeable future.