Southampton Football Club has announced it is delighted that Moussa Djenepo has signed a three-year contract extension at St Mary’s, there will be some who will not be pleased to hear this, but he has earned his place in the squad this season.
The 24-year-old joined Saints in 2019 from Standard Liège in Belgium, and his new deal will take him to 2025, it is fair to say that it has not been a smooth ride for Djenepo, after a great start he struggled to keep his good form going, just before Covid he was sent off and this would mean when football returned he was banned and therefore found himself out of a side that was winning games.
It is fair to say that 2020/21 wasn't his best season and last season he started only 5 games with 7 appearances off the bench.
But this season even though he was asked to play as a wing back and even as a more traditional left back he has showed that he can be disciplined and although some of his detractors gave him little credit, most saw that he was now a squad man and one that can make a contribution.
He might struggle again now to get in the starting line up with the arrival of Juan Larios and in the New Year the return of Tino Livramento, he might be reduced to that of impact player, but he will be a good squad member and certainly it shows how the squad is developing in that we now have players of his calibre rather than untried youngsters on the bench.
Moussa has made 74 appearances for Saints to date across all competitions, scoring four goals, including a Premier League Goal of the Month winner in September 2019 for a sublime solo effort against Sheffield United.
Hel has featured in a number of positions for the club, including full-back, wing-back and No 10 on both flanks.
Djenepo has 29 caps for his countryand featured in both legs of Mali’s World Cup qualification play-off against Tunisia in the summer.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl said:
"Moussa is a very popular player in the dressing room and we are very happy he has decided to stay with us.
"He is a fantastic character who works hard to improve his game and always puts the team first, as we have seen with the number of different positions he has played for the club over many years.”
Moussa Djenepo said: "I’m happy. I’m happy because it is proof of the club’s trust in me, so I say thank you for everything.
"It’s the team I want to grow up with and learn more, and I will give my best to do everything for the club.”