London Aug 9 (IANS) Southampton FC have broken their club record in signing Gabon midfielder Mario Lemina from record Italian football champions Juventus for a transfer fee of 17 million euros ($19.95 million).
"The 23-year-old completed his switch from the Italian side and has joined the club on a five-year contract " Southampton said in a statement posted on their website on Tuesday.
Confirming Lemina s sale Juventus said that Southampton s cost may increase up to maximum 20 million euros ($23.47 million) on achieving given sport conditions in the course of the duration of the contract.
A senior international with Gabon Lemina started his career in France with Lorient before joining Marseille in 2013 and then moving to Juventus in 2015 initially on loan before completing a permanent transfer last summer.
In his time with the Bianconeri he won both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia twice and featured in last season s Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Southmapton Vice Chairman (Football) Les Reed said in the statement: "Mario is an outstanding talent who has already achieved a great deal in his career winning a number of titles and gaining experience of playing on some of the biggest stages in world football.
"Investing in a player of Mario s quality and buying from a club like Juventus is a significant statement of intent from the club and this is a purchase that has set another club-record fee.
"In a volatile market with some extraordinary and inexplicable transfers taking place we are determined to go about our work in a diligent and correct way.
"This is a player who has won trophies and played in the Champions League final less than three months ago and he has signed for Saints amid a host of suitors."
Commenting on his move Lemina said: "I am really happy to have signed for Southampton. I think that it was the project that attracted me the most and the one my family was really behind. I am really happy to be here."
Turin giants Juventus said that they will get a profit of 9.4 million euros ($11.03 million) from Lemina s sale.
--IANS
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