Saints have confirmed the signing of Guido Carrillo from Monaco for wat is believed to be a club record fee.

A statement from St Mary's this evening read.

Southampton Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of striker Guido Carrillo, from AS Monaco.

The 26-year-old Argentinian today completed his switch from the Ligue 1 champions, signing a contract that runs until June 2021 at St Mary’s.

He links up once again with manager Mauricio Pellegrino, who he played under when the pair were at Estudiantes in their homeland.

It was there that Carrillo began his career, graduating from the youth ranks, before his goalscoring potential caught the eye of Monaco in 2015.

In his two-and-a-half years in Monte Carlo, the forward tasted Champions League football and helped his side break Paris Saint-Germain’s domestic dominance, as they claimed the league title last season for the first time since 2000.

Vice Chairman (Football) Les Reed said: “A huge amount of work has gone in to completing this transfer, and we are thrilled that we have now been able to push it through to completion.

“Guido represents a very exciting addition to our attacking options ahead of the final months of the season, possessing plenty of experience at the highest level, while also having the potential and the desire to improve even further.

“We are confident he will benefit us not only in the remainder of this campaign, but in the years to come.”

Commenting on his move, Guido Carrillo said: “I’m very happy. It’s a great feeling to be a part of this club.

“Lots of things attracted me. I know Southampton from watching the Premier League from when I was small, I’ve always regarded it as the most important league in the world.

“I obviously know the coaching staff, I’ve worked with them in Argentina and I also spoke with some players who were former teammates in Argentina, who are now playing in the Premier League and they told me all about the club and gave it a shining reference. Therefore, I had no doubts when I took the decision.”

Saints fans will obviously be delighted to see a new signing arrive at St Mary's for what although not confirmed officially be the club is likely to be the club's record signing and they hope that it wil not be the last of this transfer window.

Carrillo could play some part in the FA Cup against Watford on Saturday, but that could depend on whether he needs to return to France to tiw up any loose ends, but even if he does make the squad it is more likely that any appearance will be from the bench.

He is more likely though to make his debut against Brighton in midweek.

Carrillo will offer a different type of option than other forwards on Saints books at present and is more in the mould of Pelle with an ability to win the ball in the air and bring other into the game and create chances.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 20:54 - Jan 25 He looks pretty useful in You Tube clips , AND he's used to playing in Red and White, too.
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Bettwsresident added 21:01 - Jan 25 Phew! I am feeling increasingly good about this one and the idea of Manolo or CA playing off a big front man is pretty exciting.
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schatfield added 21:28 - Jan 25 Looks like a good signing and hopefully will stop some of the moaning about how we never do anything in the transfer window now
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Santos added 21:45 - Jan 25 lets hope the can play like Pelle as from a height and build perspective Is only an inch taller than Gabbiadini and not the mountain Pelle was. Really hoping he scores shed loads but fearing we may have just wasted 20 million. Here’s to being proved wrong.
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pintsizedsaint added 22:35 - Jan 25 Nice to see this one done. Good luck to him. Promes would be a cherry on the cake for this January window. Another name that is a bit of a quiet whisper in the wind is that of Nicolas Gaitan. Another Argentinian (first name Osvaldo...) with serious ability but a question mark over personality and 'fit'. Wonderful technical ability, particularly close ball control - can dribble through reams of players, and has class in passing and through balls: widely known as the king of assists during his Benfica days Plays in wide midfield positions - left footed but is more than comfortable on the right. Has great upper body strength that could really work wonders in the EPL. Problems are concentration and (in some respects) discipline. Head can go down and he can wonder off in games. Consistency has suffered as a result. I can seriously believe that his name has been mentioned in the Black Box room at Saints - this is a guy who is seen as being potentially world class, but just hasn't been able to make the step up yet in clubs (Befica and Madrid) who demand more. He's been coveted by Man Utd allegedly for many years, but his career has stalled at Athletico Madrid and he's been told he can leave. Nobody wanted to buy (over valued) and Madrid are happy to see him go on loan. Apparently he may not be too keen on EPL as he cannot speak English - and his agent only wants a top 5 club if coming to EPL but he's not in the position to justify that. He wants top wages though. Swansea are apparently interested, but Saints keep getting linked too - especially in the European press. It's probably nothing, but Saints name is in the hat with this guy, and you wouldn't put it past Saints (if they really do want him) to steal a quiet march on this player. I have to say, he's got serious potential, although the mentality is an issue. With MP and now Carrillo here, you could see Saints sealing something over Swansea.

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SaintBrock added 22:45 - Jan 25 The poor sod is on a hiding to nothing, It'll be his fault now if we go down. Personally I doubt he'll make any difference at all under a coaching team that turned our last highly rated striker into a nincompoop.
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SaintNick added 23:09 - Jan 25 Seems like there could be a change of direction in our tactics, he is a different style of striker than anyone else on the books at the moment
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Ali_Diarea added 23:57 - Jan 25 Here’s hoping he’s the missing link that can bring out the best in Boufal and Lemina? COYS let’s catch Everton!
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DPeps added 06:33 - Jan 26 Good news. He looks like the sort of striker we need. I'm hopeful that this signing means a change in playing style, as Carillo doesn't seem like he'd play up top alone. This could, finally, bring the best out of Gabbi. His scoring record is difficult to assess, and frankly the leagues he's played in don't compare to the PL. But overall a very welcome signing
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ItchenNorth added 07:50 - Jan 26 Day 25 - Saints Land Carrillo What's happened to you count down TUI !!
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petedoors1 added 09:05 - Jan 26 Better Late than Never.
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SanMarco added 12:10 - Jan 26 schatfield - 'stop the moaning' - three league titles in a row followed by champions league wins wouldn't do that!!!! It would be nice to give this guy a chance though - I remember Pelle being labelled useless after one bad touch in his first game...
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bstokesaint added 12:20 - Jan 26 The best I can do with this one is to be cautiously optimistic. I want to believe we’ve signed an undiscovered gem, but generally we don’t have such a great record with players in this price bracket and position. I’m glad we’re being seen to do something, but still feel one new player won’t be enough. We need a playmaker and a central defender. I appreciate scoring goals is our biggest issue, but too many “individual mistakes” have cost us at the other end, which is something that didn’t really happen in the Lovren/Toby/VVD days. Unfortunately too it looks like Pomes isn’t going to happen. That was an exciting rumour whilst it lasted.

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