Southampton FC have agreed a deal with Werder Bremen to sign Dutch winger Ejero Elia on loan for the rest of the season with a view to permanent transfer.
Elia is expected to help beef Ronald Koeman’s attacking options with Jay Rodriguez yet to recover from a cruciate knee ligament surgery and Senegalese Sadio Mane due for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) next month.
Speaking before the confirmation of the move, manager Koeman had admitted: “We (Saints) need at least one more player up front because we lose Sadio Mane in January for the Africa Cup. We need another player for that position and he is a good option.”
“Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement over the signing of Eljero Elia,” a statement on the club’s website confirmed.
“The winger will officially join Saints on Saturday 3 January, initially on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent transfer next summer.”
The ex-Twente and Hamburg player, 27, made 33 league appearances for Bremen last season.
He has 27 international caps and was a member of the Dutch squad to the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.