16.06.2015 19:58 h

Southampton sign striker Juanmi

Southampton have signed Spanish striker Juanmi on a four-year deal, the English Premier League club announced Tuesday.

The 22-year-old, capped once by Spain, joins the south-coast side from Primera Division club Malaga, for whom he scored eight league goals last season.

No transfer fee was disclosed by Southampton, but reports in Spain have suggested a figure of approximately £5 million ($8 million, 7 million euros).

"It's a pleasure to be here and I am looking forward to being a part of this club," Juanmi, who who won the Under-19 European Championship with Spain in both 2011 and 2012, told Southampton's website.

"I am anxious and I want to start as soon as possible. This is a big club and it has shown a lot of trust in me."

He added: "The training ground is magnificent and likewise the stadium. It really, really is a big club.

"Since I was very young, it's always been a dream for me to play in the Premier League. The style of football played here is similar to the way I play, so it's a dream come true.

"Now I just want to start playing and to start scoring goals."

Southampton finished an impressive seventh in the Premier League last season in what was manager Ronald Koeman's first full campaign at St Mary's.

In the process they qualified for the Europa League and Saints director of football Les Reed said the club's involvement in the continental competition had been a key factor in the club's decision to sign Juanmi.

He said: "Juanmi is a young, exciting and attacking player who fits into the club's strategic plan perfectly.

"He has been tracked closely by our recruitment department for some time, and we were keen to act quickly when presented with the opportunity to bring this young player with international quality to Southampton.

"To have attracted a player of his potential at this early stage of the summer is testament to our determination to build upon the achievements of the 2014/15 season and to continue to implement our long-term plan for the future.

"We will fully embrace the challenge of the Europa League in the coming campaign, and want to develop further in Europe over the seasons to follow.

"Juanmi's arrival is an important step in this process."