Southampton have sealed a season-long loan deal for Armando Broja from Chelsea for 2021-22 season.
Broja makes the season-long loan switch to Southampton following a positive pre-season for Thomas Tuchel’s Blues with two goals, having enjoyed a successful loan spell at Eredivisie’s Vitesse Arnhem with 11 goals in 34 appearances last season.
Speaking on his loan move to St Mary’s Stadium, Broja said: “I feel very happy. I was really excited to join Southampton. It’s obviously a very good Premier League club.”
The Albania striker also spoke about Southampton’s history of having produced top players like Theo Walcott, Adam Lallana, Matt Le Tissier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg over the years.
Discussing his thoughts on the Saints’ record with youngsters and his expectations, Broja said: “They’ve got a good history and they play in the best league in the world, so it’s amazing for a young player to experience it, be in and around a Premier League team, and learn and develop from the older players, the staff and everyone here. It’s a very good opportunity.”
Manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl added that Broja “is a very talented player” who had been on the club’s radar for a while as he impressed at Vitesse last season.
Having sold Danny Ings to Aston Villa, Hasenhuttl also complimented Broja as a strong replacement – albeit on loan, saying: “He is young, but he comes now with a full season of experience in senior football with a good team, and he brings a lot of qualities that can help us.
“He is a strong, quick player with a good instinct and this makes him a good fit for the way we like to play.”
Hasenhuttl also acknowledged the fact that the Albanian is “highly regarded by Chelsea” as a future top talent, in a squad that currently contains Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Ike Ugbo with Michy Batshuayi set to depart before the transfer window shuts.
Broja has also signed a new five-year contract at Chelsea in recent weeks prior to this loan move, having made his senior debut as a substitute against Everton in the Blues’ 4-0 win over Everton in March 2020.
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