Southampton receive big hint Leo Scienza is staying put | OneFootball

The Brazilian has been the subject of intense transfer speculation for many weeks

The build-up to Southampton's 2026/27 Championship season has been unprecedented to say the least, with the club still somewhat feeling the effects of the Spygate scandal which ended their 2025/26 campaign in controversial circumstances.

Indeed, Saints had earned plenty of praise for their upsurge in the Championship standings from January onwards under the management of Tonda Eckert, who had only been handed the managerial reins at St Mary's on a permanent basis in December 2025.

However, it is fair to say that the way in which the 33-year-old German head coach is now perceived, largely by outsiders, has been flipped in recent weeks after the South Coast side were expelled from May's Championship play-off final after admitting to three breaches of EFL regulations.

Therefore, it still remains to be seen whether Eckert will be given the chance to oversee a first full season at St Mary's, with reports circulating that he could still be served with a six-month ban by the FA despite being charged on three counts of bringing football into 'disrepute'.

Saints also have a minor disadvantage on the pitch too, even if the majority of their high-profile squad has still been retained up until now, with the fallout from Spygate also seeing the club hit with a four-point deduction.

Naturally, given the talent at Eckert's disposal, plenty of names have been linked with moves to the Premier League and across Europe.

However, whilst the current uncertainty is good for nobody associated with the club, a new hint may well have emerged over Leo Scienza's immediate future.

Action Images

There weren't exactly many reasons for Saints fans to be cheerful during Will Still's short-lived tenure in Hampshire last year, but the €10m acquisition of the Brazilian attacker from FC Heidenheim on a four-year contract was certainly one of those.

Even during a dismal run of form under Eckert's predecessor, Scienza earned plenty of praise for his energy and passion for the cause, which was later complemented by a glut of goal contributions as Saints shot up the table.

Although it has been known that signings from the continent can take some time to aclimatise to the rigours of the Championship, Scienza's dynamism, productivity and unpredictability yielded seven goals and 10 assists in 37 appearances, whilst also impressing in Southampton's run to the FA Cup semi-finals.

As a result of their controversial non-promotion circumstances and a reported £25m release clause in his contract, speculation has been rife over the winger's long-term future, with many feeling he has the attributes and quality to be featuring at a greater level than the Championship.

A plethora of Premier League clubs have been linked with Scienza's services over time, as well as clubs across Europe, whilst the same can also be said for Northern Ireland international, Shea Charles.

Yet, whilst Saints appear to be sat on two cash goldmines, supporters may have taken note of a cryptic hint revealed by the club when it comes to ending such speculation.

Action Images

It is clear how much the affection supporters have for Scienza at St Mary's has been reciprocated by their star winger in the past 11 months, and now that has been added to by the fact his squad number has been changed ahead of the new season.

Whilst some choose not to read too much into such developments, the Brazilian has seen his number changed from 13 to 7, which was most recently donned by Joe Aribo for a four-season period prior to the expiration of his contract.

However, whilst not many Saints fans will have fond memories of the Nigerian midfielder, the same squad number has been worn by several legends of the club throughout history.

Indeed, the standout figure is Matt Le Tissier, who represented the club 540 times in all competitions between 1986 and 2002, scoring 209 times whilst also becoming the first midfielder to score 100 Premier League goals in the process.

Alongside the man who is thought to be Southampton's greatest-ever player, the likes of Shane Long and Rickie Lambert have worn seven in recent history, whilst two-time Ballon d'Or winner Kevin Keegan, whose recent passing was met with an outpouring of emotion across the entirety of English football, also did the same during his stint at The Dell between 1980 and 1982.

As such, Scienza will surely realise how much he is valued by the club at this moment in time, and could stay loyal himself despite such intense transfer interest.