Official : Southampton Confirm Nigerian Defender Has Signed New Two-Year Deal

With a statement on their official website, Southampton have confirmed that Nigerian defender Oludare Olufunwa has committed his future to the club by putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal.

Allnigeriasoccer.com exclusively reported two months ago that The Saints were looking to tie him down to a new contract and after weeks of negotiations, the highly-rated teenager signed the deal last Wednesday, July 1, a day after his previous contract expired.

Olufunwa has been with the Southampton Academy since 2010 and the new deal will keep him at the St Mary's Stadium until at least the summer of 2022, if the two parties honor the agreement.

"Dare has shown real promise in his first year as a young professional," Academy Director Matt Hale said.

"Giving him a two-year commitment provides him with time to develop further in our environment. He is someone who is really young within his age group and patience could be key to his development.

"He has been with the football club since an early age and we believe he has a great opportunity to showcase his ability in the next couple of years."

Olufunwa featured ten times for Southampton U23s in the curtailed academy season and has been invited to train with the first team in the past.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : southamptonfc.com