Southampton have signed defender, James Bree from Luton Town for £750k.
Bree’s move to St Mary’s sees him leave Kenilworth Road after scoring twice in 143 senior appearances since he arrived on an initial loan from Aston Villa in August 2019, which became a permanent transfer 13 months later.
The 25 year-old who plays at right-back will now reunite with manager, Nathan Jones who had left Luton in November to replace Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Speaking about his decision to join Southampton after three-and-a-half years at Luton, Bree said that he was “absolutely delighted” to reunite with his “old gaffer,” as he iterated that he “knew it was the right decision straight away and I didn’t have to think twice about it.”
Southampton will be Bree’s first-ever top-flight club as a senior player and he is excited to make the step up, as he added: “It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid, making my Premier League debut and obviously for a team as big as Southampton. It’s something you dare to dream about.”
Jones added that Bree has the necessary “qualities” in his character and on pitch performances to help the Saints in their battle for Premier League survival.
Acknowledging Southampton’s current “talented” fullbacks, Jones explained that the club has been “lighter on numbers” due to Tino Livramento’s lengthy absence and other injury issues, meaning that Bree’s arrival has enabled the club to strengthen in that position.
Jones also assured club supporters that Bree is more than just a right-back as he continued: “He’s also comfortable playing at centre-back too, so that versatility helps gives us another good option in a number of areas.”
Luton manager, Rob Edwards meanwhile hailed Bree as “a fantastic servant” throughout his time at the Hatters, who has been “tremendous” to work with, despite only knowing the right-back for two months following his arrival as manager in November.
On what it means to see Bree step up to the Premier League, Edwards said: “This is a great opportunity for him. It’s something that he was really keen to do because like everyone, he’s ambitious and the Premier League is the level you need to aim for.”
Bree has signed a three-and-a-half year contract until June 2026 and is Southampton’s third signing of this month’s transfer window after Mislav Orsic and Carlos Alcaraz.
Bree’s debut for Southampton could come at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday 28 January, as the Saints host Blackpool in the Fourth Round of 2022-23 FA Cup at 3pm GMT.
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