SAINTS have completed the signing of Fraser Forster from Celtic for a fee believed to be about £10m.

The 26-year-old England international has become the most expensive keeper in the club’s history after agreeing a four-year contract and making the switch to St Mary’s.

He will become the club’s number one and is expected to go straight into the side to start the new Premier League season against Liverpool at Anfield next weekend.

In a club statement, manager Ronald Koeman said: "Fraser is a very talented player and we are delighted to be able to bring him to Southampton. This is another important part of our rebuilding process ahead of the start of the season.

"The fact that he has worked with Dave Watson before means we already know all about his strengths and weaknesses, and I am confident that we will be able to help him improve even further.

"Fraser is the perfect fit to help complement the players we already have, and he will add a lot of quality to the squad. 

"He is an exciting English player with a very good reputation within the game and, at 26, he will enjoy the best years of his career at Southampton."

Forster has worked with goalkeeping coach Dave Watson with England, and was part of the squad for the finals in Brazil.

He started his career at Newcastle but never made a first team appearance for the Magpies, instead having loan spells at Stockport, Bristol Rovers and Norwich before moving to Celtic.

After a successful loan spell north of the border he joined Celtic permanently in 2012.

During his time with the Hoops he won three Scottish league titles and two Scottish Cups.

Forster’s signing inevitably sheds doubt on the future of Artur Boruc, who only has a year left remaining on his contract with Kelvin Davis ensconced as club captain and young keeper Paulo Gazzaniga developing in the background.