Southampton Signs QPR Striker Charlie Austin

Southampton has completed the signing of Charlie Austin from Queens Park Rangers after agreeing a fee of £4million for the striker.

Saints confirmed on Saturday that Austin has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal after he agreed personal terms and passed a medical. The 26-years old said “As soon as Southampton showed an interest that was the one club I wanted to go to. I'm delighted to have got it over the line so soon into January. I can't wait to get started now”. You see the progression from when I was playing against Southampton for Swindon. For me, it was important to come to a club that's on the up and that's what I've got here”.

Austin had been in fine form for the Championship club this season. Despite suffering from injury over Christmas, he has found the net 10 times in 16 games.  He has not played for four weeks, out with a hamstring injury, but had returned to first-team training at QPR and Koeman will give his new signing time to get fully fit before throwing him into the side. “He will do tests about his fitness on Monday or Tuesday, then we know how fit the player is. Is he close to be part of the team? Maybe he needs more time to be 100 per cent. We bring one player in, still no-one will go out” Koeman said.