A prolific goalscorer, Armstrong moves to St Mary’s on a four-year deal, becoming the second forward to be added to Ralph Hasenhüttl’s squad.
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Southampton have completed the signing of striker Adam Armstrong from Blackburn Rovers. A prolific goalscorer with the Championship side, Armstrong moves to St Mary’s on a four-year deal. The attacker becomes the second forward to be added to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad, following the arrival of Armando Broja on loan from Chelsea. He joins Saints having scored 29 times for Rovers last season, finishing second in the Championship charts. Armstrong had the best goals-to-minutes ratio in the division.
The 24-year-old began his career with hometown club Newcastle, then developed further during loan spells with Coventry, Barnsley and Bolton as a youngster. Armstrong further joined Blackburn in 2018, where he went on to make 139 appearances and score 54 goals.
The 24-year-old has been capped five times at England Under-21 level, while he was part of the Under-20 side that lifted the 2017 World Cup, making four appearances in the tournament. He had also previously been in the Young Lions squad that won the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
“Adam was a big target for us this summer, so we are very pleased to have added him to the squad, especially as there was a lot of interest in him from other clubs too. He is at a good stage of his career for him to be coming here. He is a young, dynamic player who has developed well so far and already has good experience, as well as an impressive goalscoring record, and I believe we can now help him realise even more of his potential,” said Hasenhuttl.
“Will bring a lot of qualities to our team, and he gives us another good option in attack, which will be important for us,” he added.
Armstrong stated that he was looking forward to representing Southampton.
“It’s unbelievable to be here – such a massive club with a great fanbase and it’s just something that I’m really looking forward to. I thought it was perfect as my next step. Wanted to get back to the Premier League from what I’ve done for Blackburn, so I’m over the moon. Think that’s what attracted me towards Southampton – the way they play, they’re on the front foot, the pressing, counter-attacking,” he said.
“That’s something that’s my kind of game as well – I’ve scored most of my goals on the counter-attack or from chances being created high up the pitch where I’m taking balls off defenders. I spoke to the gaffer and it just seemed perfect, and I’ve touched on it before – I’m over the moon that I’m here and hopefully I can kick-start my career. I had a chat with him and he just explained how he wants me to play, how his team play, and that was a major key of coming here,” added Armstrong.
“As a striker, you know you’re going to get chances in the game, but I’ve always been a confident lad – on the pitch and off the pitch – in my own abilities of what I can do. I think it all just came together in the last two seasons. I was playing down the middle a lot more – I had to bide my time to get that shirt down the middle, and as soon as I went down the middle I started producing the goals. It’s something that strikers get looked on, is goals. I’m sure that’s all they can go off really, and I’m thankful that I’ve scored quite a few goals,” concluded the attacker.
