Southampton have agreed on a deal to sign Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow, with a verbal agreement in place between both clubs, according to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Final details are currently being sorted, and the 26-year-old will jet into England afterwards for medical tests once everything is finalised.
Southampton have had Bijlow on their radar for weeks and have all but completed the signing of the Netherlands international as manager Russell Martin looks to bolster his goalkeeping ranks.
🚨🔴⚪️ EXCL: Southampton agree on deal to sign Justin Bijlow as new goalkeeper from Feyenoord.
Club to club verbal agreement in place, final details being sorted then Bijlow will fly for medical tests.
Here we go, soon. ⏳🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/JekMeD3P2x
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 24, 2024
The Saints started life back in the Premier League last weekend with a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United, with 34-year-old Alex McCarthy in goal for the game.
The Englishman is expected to retain his spot when Southampton face Nottingham Forest later today, but Bijlow could be in goal when they take on Brentford next Saturday.
Arsenal also wanted the Feyenoord star, but it is the St Mary’s Stadium club who have snapped him up as they look to impress upon their return to the top-flight and secure safety at the end of the campaign.
Southampton have added Flynn Downes, Ronnie Edwards, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Yukinari Sugawara, Ben Brereton Diaz, Nathan Wood, Adam Lallana, Brook Myers, Khiani Shombe, Charlie Taylor, Cameron Archer, Lesley Ugochukwu and Mateus Fernandes to their first-team so far this summer, and Bijlow is expected to be next.
The Dutchman has played almost 150 games for the Eredivisie club since making his debut in 2017 and he brings the quality and much-needed experience the Saints could do with.
The eight-cap Netherlands international has won seven major trophies with Feyenoord, and Southampton need such players in their dressing room as they look to successfully navigate the murky waters of the Premier League in 2024-25.
