The worst kept secret has now been confirmed and Saints have announced that Adam Lallana has returned to St Mary's on a free transfer, after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of his contract.

Southampton FC have officially confirmed that Adam Lallana will once again be a Saint for the following season, 10 years after leaving the club to join Liverpool in somewhat controversial circumstances.

Back July 2014 we covered the situation and you can read what was said then using the following link Adam Lallana's Echo Statement Backfires .

I like many supporters was hurt and upset at his departure, in many respects more so than any of the other departures in the summer of 2014, Rickie Lambert may have been the main hero of the fans, but Adam Lallana was loved just as much and his leaving hurt more because he was seen as one of us, he was one of our own as the song goes.

He was seen as a loyal player and we had hoped that he would put the love of the club first, for many it was perhaps the first time in years we had lost a true legend for what appeared to be money.

Saints fans were not surprised to see him go, indeed no one actually begrudged him the move, no one could say he hadn't shown loyalty and commitment in the 8 seasons he has served the club since his first team debut in August 2006 in a 5-2 victory against Yeovil in the League Cup.

In that time he had played in 235 League games for the club, he had stayed loyal as we slipped into League One and he had been a major part of our revival, scoring 48 times in those games encompassing three divisions, add on another 30 games in other competitions and he was a true club legend.

No one was complaining that he was leaving, it was all about the manner in which he left, I won't dwell on it here, you can read all about it in the link above.

But the problem for most Saints fans was that we still loved him, but he had left us for another , that another being Liverpool, it hurt and it hurt badly, it was a love affair gone sour and we Southampton fans were the spurned party.

But time moves on and the hurt diminishes and over the years, so the news he is going to return should be viewed on a pragmatic note, he is signing on a one year contract and he is not costing us a fee, yes his best years are behind him, but he has a lot to offer the squad, I would not imagine he will start many games, but his Premier League experience in the dressing room will be invaluable.

Some have suggested that it will be a Theo Walcott situation, but it is different, Walcott was not an influencer on the training ground, in the dressing room and indeed on the pitch, Lallana is all three, he will not command the wage that Theo did and a one year contract is going to be a drop in the ocean for his services.

I might have felt hurt and spurned 10 years ago, but I can forgive, although not perhaps completely forget what happened a decade ago.

So welcome back Adam Lallana, hopefully you can restore the love in the majority of the Saints fanbase, if not all of it.

Adam Lallana deserved to be called a legend of Southampton Football Club, for the service given in his first stint, that has been soured, but it can't be scrubbed from the records, it was real it happened, I hope that this reminds us of that and finally enables him to be recognised again as a true Saints legend.

Adam had this to say on the Club's website:

Speaking about his Staplewood homecoming,

“I’ve been no stranger – my son’s at the Academy, so I’m in and around it quite a bit, but I’ve not been this close to being home, so it’s amazing. It does feel surreal, but it’s an opportunity I’m extremely grateful for and I’m looking forward to."

“When I started speaking to Russell and understood there was a little bit of interest, it was something I knew straightaway felt right in my head and in my heart that it was something I needed to pursue, and it came through in the end.

“I’m extremely happy to come back to where it all started. Although it sounds like a bit of a fairy tale, in my head there’s still a job to do and I’m really confident I’ve still got a lot to give to this football club.”

Russell Martin said: “I’m delighted that we could bring Adam back home to where it all began for him. Adam has the DNA of this club running through him and brings vital experience as we prepare for the Premier League.

“We’re going to need everyone to play a part again this coming season and Adam helps us create real depth and know-how in midfield.”

Photo: Action Images

halftimeorange added 11:03 - Jun 15 I recall that Adam had a heart problem which initially deterred bigger clubs from coming in for him when Saints were in the doldrums. At his best he was an outstanding playmaker for us and now that Stuart Armstrong has gone we lack creativity. The fact he chased the dollar is symptomatic of all talented players and he won't be the last we lose. If Lallana can help us gain points next season that's really all that matters. If his son turns out to be half the player his dad was we'll all be happy.

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StEdmund added 11:13 - Jun 15 Some will remember Alan Ball playing for Saints at the age of 36 orchestrating the midfield and letting others doing the running for him. Hopefully, Lalanna will do a similar job even if it's for only part of a game. Glad to have him back.
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underweststand added 11:13 - Jun 15 Now wait for the split opinions . Those who think he's a washed-up, injury-prone player past his prime, or those who feel that the presence of a former England international whose won a Champions League title, and played at the highest level can be a big benefit to our ..yet to be finalised Prem. squad for next season. A voice in the dressing room with loads of experience who will command respect from everyone, and a source of encouragement to the up-and-coming youngsters. Even for one season, his influence on the pitch could be enormous. I know which group I would support.

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Saintaxidriver added 11:18 - Jun 15 My memory of his leaving wasn't a bitter one like you seem to have Nick. He tried to do it in the right way but as usual the media got up to their tricks. He gave us great service and deserved to be a legend and I am very happy to have him back as he will bring much needed experience as well as more on the pitch than some suspect.
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SaintNick added 11:38 - Jun 15 My memory of him isn't bitter, I was disappointed in him at the time, but as I say in the article time has been a great healer, I am in the camp that he could be a good asset this coming season
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Monksway added 11:39 - Jun 15 My memory is of the Cortese/Pochetino cult going sour with the inevitable break up of the team. Lallana was just part of that and the media only ever see our players as additions to the rich elite when we are doing well. Don't care about the past but wonder how much he has to offer in a relegation battle.
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kingolaf added 11:57 - Jun 15 Makes me laugh what one dopey Freemason will do for another.
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Colburn added 12:37 - Jun 15 I think to say he went for the big money is a misrepresentation. He won a Premier League title and the Champions League! Yes, maybe if we’d have kept all our best players we might have been a challenge to the top 4 but Liverpool were likely to challenge for silverware. Sure the way he signed the Liverpool shirt for that young lad was really poor but when compared to what he gave us as a player, becomes insignificant. For me, this is a very smart move for many reasons and I don’t think he’s burnt out having had few full seasons in his career due to injury. Welcome back Adam, looking forward to seeing him score in our shirt again!

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Farlow added 12:44 - Jun 15 All players owe it to their families to earn the best wages they can.We had great service from Adam and it can only be a good signing as its a freebee.
4

Bowlercow added 15:43 - Jun 15 I think I remember AL failing a medical at another club some years before the mass exodus to Liverpool Saints on the other hand gave him a new contract when they could have medically retired him When he got yet another new contract when we got into the PL he said he saw no reason why he wouldn't finish his career with Saints A lot changed when Kat took the reins away from NC and I think it's possible he convinced the players that his,and therefore their dream,was over.That of course is supposition on my part but it does fit I will not give him any slack because of what went before and he will need to earn it if I am going to sing "he plays on the left" etc

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Stevebish added 15:58 - Jun 15 As far as I am concerned this looks like great business, with Stuart leaving Adam is a direct replacement and if his form is still good might even be an upgrade
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highfield49 added 16:24 - Jun 15 I'm delighted to see scant negativity on the posts concerning AL signing up for the season ahead. In my view worth every penny, considering the experience, motivation and coaching he can offer both new signings and the emerging young players. As has been said already, he may not play too many games but his influence is going to be priceless.
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SanMarco added 11:58 - Jun 16 I think harbouring long-term resentments at the expense of current decision-making is rather foolish. I remember us all ganging up to make sure Hoddle didn't come back and then finding us go backwards with the bloke we got instead. The key for me is what AL can contribute NOW. I will give this signing the benefit of the doubt on that basis. We will all like him again soon enough if things go well....

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