Shane Long completes transfer to Southampton from Hull City

Southampton has signed Irish striker Shane Long to a four-year contract from Hull City, the club announced Thursday. Gary Jacob from The Times of London reports

Southampton has signed Irish striker Shane Long to a four-year contract from Hull City, the club announced Thursday. Gary Jacob from The Times of London reports the transfer fee was £12 million.

Long joins Saints from Hull City, where he scored four goals in 15 matches last season. The 27-year-old has also played for English clubs Reading and West Bromwich Albion, as well as Cork City in Ireland.

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"Southampton play a brand of football that’s enjoyable to watch, and I’m sure it’ll be enjoyable to play in as well," Long said in a statement. "I think the formation they play will suit me, and the manager has a lot of knowledge about football and I’m looking to learn off him."

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Southampton opens the Premier League season on Sunday with a match at Liverpool.

- Dan Gartland