Adam Lallana became Southampton’s second singing of the summer as they club prepare for return to the Premier League.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis was the first, with his loan deal made permanent for £20 million as obligated by Manchester City if Southampton were promoted.
The 22-year-old is joined by a player at the other end of his career in 36-year-old Adam Lallana as Russell Martin targets Premier League experience.
This ploy is evidenced further by the imminent signing of 30-year-old free agent Saman Ghoddos who will leave Brentford upon the expiration of his contract this summer, as well as Ryan Fraser.
Despite his age, Lallana’s return to Southampton is not purely about sentiment given he started his career at the club and the veteran still has plenty to offer on the pitch.
Southampton signing Adam Lallana getting better with age
Lallana was a crucial player in the side that secured back-to-back promotions to climb from League One to the Premier League under Nigel Adkins in the early 2010s.
He then captained the club in the Premier League before signing for Liverpool in summer 2014 for a £25 million fee.
Now, ten years later, Lallana has returned to the place it all started and his comments in 2022 should get fans excited about what he can still do on the pitch.
Speaking to The Athletic in August 2022, Lallana said: “I’m 34 and arguably performing at the highest level that I have throughout my career.
“I feel like I’m contributing, I’ve got rhythm, I feel fit. In the last couple of games, I’ve shown my fitness levels are high. I’m versatile, I can play in different positions, and I feel as though I’m contributing to the team. It’s exciting.
“You’ve only got to look at Luka Modric, who turns 37 next month. I look at players like that and see the longevity. I don’t see why I can’t emulate that, because I’ve never been blessed with pace in my whole career.
“But you can see the qualities that I have and what I bring to this team.”
Lallana’s qualities will be useful to Southampton
It may be another two years closer to the end of Lallana’s career, but Martin would not have signed the 34-cap England international if he did not feel he could make an impact.
The silky midfielder’s experience will be important in a young dressing room – having won both the Premier League and Champions League – but his technical ability and understanding of the game should see him slot seamlessly into Martin’s side.
He won’t play every week, but the fact he played 30 games in all competitions for Brighton last season demonstrates that Lallana should still feature regularly.
With close control, neat passing and the ability to break the lines, Lallana is likely to play the role of the most advanced midfielder that was occupied by the outgoing Stuart Armstrong for the bulk of last season.
With 265 Southampton appearances already to his name, Lallana will be keen to add value to the club for whom he made his debut way back in 2006.