Nathan Redmond leaves Southampton to join Besiktas on permanent deal

Southampton winger Nathan Redmond has joined Turkish giants Besiktas on a permanent deal.

The 28-year-old completed his medical on Thursday afternoon before putting pen to paper on a one-year contract.

Redmond leaves Southampton after six years at St Mary's, scoring 30 goals and providing 27 assists in 232 appearances across all competitions.

The Birmingham-born winger becomes Besiktas' 12th signing of the summer window and will link up with fellow new recruits Dele Alli, Romain Saiss, Wout Weghorst and Arthur Masuaku in Istanbul.

Speaking to Besiktas' official website on his arrival at the club, Redmond said: "I am very excited about this new challenge in my career. I came to an amazing club. I heard that Besiktas has a great fan community and stadium.

✍🏽✌🏽#WelcomeRedmond pic.twitter.com/ne2A21F58V

— Beşiktaş JK (@Besiktas) September 8, 2022

"I talked to Dele Alli. He told me a lot about the atmosphere here and the interest people have in him. This was one of the feelings we wanted to experience for me and my family.

"I met David Beckham at the airport. I told him the situation and where I was going. He told me he had some of the best times of his career playing for teams outside England. He gave me some advice and told me to enjoy the new chapter in my career.

"Playing in the Premier League for as long as possible was something I always wanted to achieve. As a child in England or here, you want to play for the best teams and the best league in your country. Glad I had the chance to do this. But as I said, now is the time to breathe new life into my career. I can not wait for this.

"Our Coach Valerien Ismael informed me that there is a very nice family atmosphere here. Dele Alli also told me that he felt very good here. Me and my family are so looking forward to it.

"I had come to the end of my time in Southampton and was looking for a new thrill. Of course, there were other offers, but I had to choose a place from the bar of all these options, both personally, in terms of football and the competitive environment here. I didn't think there was a better place for this than Besiktas.

Thank you, Redders ❤️

Nathan Redmond has completed a transfer to @Besiktas after a six-year stay with #SaintsFC:

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) September 8, 2022

"I haven't played in the Premier League yet this season. I played in a few games before the season. I think I will reach match fitness as I take time. It may take one or two games for me to reach my best form. However, I can say that my body is fit and ready to adapt to our team's tactics by getting into the tempo again in training. Until one or two games, I will be ready when the team and our coach need me."

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl told the club's official website: "It is a good change for him. It was, after six years, maybe time to get something new for him. We had a fantastic time together, three-and-a-half, nearly four years with a lot of very, very good moments, some also not so good ones, but I had a very good relationship with him to the end.

"He showed his professionalism in such moments and I'm really looking forward to seeing him scoring there and playing good games. For us, we all move forward, we all go through changes in life and it's a big change for him, but I think he made a good choice."

Redmond, who began his career with boyhood club Birmingham City and spent time with Norwich City, is unlikely to make his debut for Besiktas against city rivals Istanbul Basaksehir on Friday, but he could make his first appearance in black and white when they make the trip to Istanbulspor on September 17.