EPL: Southampton sign defender Kevin Danso on loan from Augsburg

Southampton announced the season-long loan signing of Augsburg defender Kevin Danso on Friday following a late bid for the Austria international on the last day of the Premier League transfer window.

Local media reported earlier that the club submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League on Thursday seeking a two-hour extension to the 1600 GMT (05:00 p.m. BST) transfer deadline to get the deal over the line.

The move was held up by Augsburg awaiting an all-clear from the German FA before announcing the 20-year-old`s departure, and Southampton secured international clearance for the move on Friday.

"I`m delighted to join a club that has produced a lot of great players," Danso told Southampton`s website. "I`m ready for the challenge and really excited to get started, and also to get to know the fans and the rest of the lads too."

Danso, who plays at centre back, trained at the Milton Keynes Dons academy after moving to England at the age of six and joined Augsburg in 2014.

He made his senior debut for the Bundesliga club in 2017 at the age of 18 and went on to make 45 appearances in total. He has also earned six senior caps for Austria.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said his compatriot would boost the team`s defence in the upcoming campaign and matched the profile of young, technically gifted players that the club wanted to sign.

"He is in the early part of his career, but he has good experience already, with a lot of existing qualities and the potential to develop even further," Hasenhuttl added.

"Kevin is another signing that fits our model of being a talented, young player who adds quality to our first-team squad. He will improve our defensive options, so this is an excellent way for us to finish our business."

Southampton sold striker Charlie Austin to West Bromwich Albion and loaned midfielder Harrison Reed to Fulham on Thursday as well as extended the contract of winger Nathan Redmond, their player of the season during the last campaign.

The club had earlier bolstered their attacking options with the captures of forward Che Adams from Birmingham and Malian winger Moussa Djenepo from Standard Liege.