Ross Stewart to leave Southampton this summer after retained list omission | OneFootball

Ross Stewart will leave Southampton this summer after he was omitted from the club's retained list for 2026/27. The Scot is currently on World Cup duty.

He was part of a Saints squad that reached last month’s play-off final, then were ousted after a spying scandal involving Middlesbrough. Southampton now face another Championship season.

Stewart featured 33 times in 2025/26, scoring 11 goals. The option to extend his deal was not taken up. He departs with 50 appearances and 12 goals for the club.

He signed in 2023 and endured an injury-ravaged spell, restricting his involvement. Back to full fitness earlier this year, he showed flashes of the quality that prompted a fee of around £10 million, but struggled to make a consistent impact.

During his time on Wearside, he scored 40 goals in 80 first-team outings, including a vital strike at Wembley in the 2022 League One play-off final.

His next destination remains unclear, but former Premier League striker Paul Dickov has urged Celtic boss Martin O’Neill to consider him.

“Ross has got a lot of qualities - his size, his strength, he’s very quick. What's rare in a centre-forward nowadays is that he wants to run in behind as well. He’s different to what Celtic have got. If he is going to leave Southampton, there will be a lot of clubs that will be interested in him.” he told the Daily Record.

Source: Sunderland Echo