Southampton Have Solved Their Finn Azaz Dilemma With This £9m Signing | OneFootball

Southampton are set to make Aston Villa’s Lewis Dobbin their third signing of the transfer window.

The 23-year-old spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at fellow Championship side Preston North End, scoring 11 goals and providing 8 assists in 41 appearances, playing primarily as a centre-forward or left winger.

But for the Saints, Lewis Dobbin could provide a completely different dynamic to their attack.

Southampton need both a striker and an alternative to attacking midfielder Finn Azaz before any outgoings happen this summer. While Lewis Dobbin will offer different possibilities as a luxury option, it is clear which area he will suit Tonda Eckert’s side best.

Where Dobbin fits

Southampton could have signed Lewis Dobbin as their Ross Stewart replacement up front, or as an option on the left wing. But it’s unlikely – and the worst-case scenario here.

Dobbin is a bit of an all-rounder in the Championship. A good passer, dribbler and finisher, the Englishman will top up and compliment the excellent ability already in the Saints’ attack.

The 23-year-old is quite capable of playing as a striker, but stands at 5’9″ and isn’t a player Southampton would want leading their line alone – as they’ve discovered with Cameron Archer and Adam Armstrong in that singular spot.

The former Everton youth graduate can also play on the left side of the attack. But with fan favourite Leo Scienza already locked in that position and Sam Edozie keen to play for a spot, they won’t be racing to sign anybody specifically there.

It leaves two attacking positions: the No. 10 and the right wing.

New Southampton signing Lewis Dobbin is capable of playing in multiple attacking positions. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Including Everton’s Under-18 and Under-21 sides, Lewis Dobbin has scored 41 goals in his career so far. Eight of those have come as a right winger – 20% of his goals.

A very capable footballer with both his left and right feet, he can go on the inside and outside, a quality Southampton right winger Kuryu Matsuki perhaps lacks. Tom Fellows, on the other hand, is very capable with both feet, but failed to get his first Southampton goal last season despite a total xG of 4.3

Lewis Dobbin could provide the perfect mix between Fellows and Matsuki – and solve a dilemma Southampton face with No.10 Finn Azaz.

Southampton’s Finn Azaz Dilemma

Irish attacking midfielder Finn Azaz is one of the vital players in Tonda Eckert’s Southampton system, linking up the midfield and attack while providing an excellent goalscoring threat.

But the 25-year-old cannot do things alone and needs support next season, with over 50 games set to be contested.

Joining from Aston Villa, Lewis Dobbin could be viewed by Southampton as the understudy to Finn Azaz, as the signing Dragan Solak promised. As an explosive option with excellent technique, the 23-year-old really could be a simple luxury.

Or the Saints could look to turn current right winger Kuryu Matsuki into the Azaz back-up, meaning Dobbin arrives to compete with Tom Fellows. Dobbin would then be able to play as the No.10 when desired, really allowing Southampton to rotate as they please.

Finn Azaz is one of the first names on the team sheet for Southampton under head coach Tonda Eckert. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

It’s an interesting topic for debate, and won’t truly become clear until the opening weeks of the 2026/27 Championship season.

Lewis Dobbin may have thrived as a striker and left winger for Preston last season, but Tonda Eckert and Southampton could use him entirely differently, while still unlocking the same attributes.

The 23-year-old, joining for a reported £9 million fee from Aston Villa, turned down other options, such as Middlesbrough, to sign for the Saints. Sometimes splashing the cash on a versatile forward with bags of potential is a good way to go about things.

It’s clear that Southampton mean business next season.