Saints have completed the signing of Maarten Stekelenburg on a season long loan.

The 32-year-old Dutch keeper joins from Fulham and provides cover for Fraser Forster as he recovers from a long term knee injury.

Stekelenburg spent the last season on loan at Monaco, and will join Saints when that formally ends on July 1, but made only seven appearances for the club, who decided not to exercise their option to sign him on a permanent basis.

The keeper made his name at Ajax, who he joined at the age of 15, breaking into the first team in 2002.

In 282 appearances with the Dutch giants Stekelenburg won two league titles and seven other trophies.

He moved to Roma for €6m in 2011 and spent two seasons in Italy before agreeing a four a four year deal to switch to Fulham in 2013.

However, things went badly with the Cottagers, as he slipped first out of the team and then out of the squad.

Monaco moved to take him on loan last season but he was largely a back-up and enjoyed little first team football.

Stekelenburg has a good reputation in Holland, and a fine pedigree with the Dutch national side.

He has won 54 caps for his country and was an ever present in the side that got through to the World Cup final in 2010, only to lose to Spain in extra time.

Executive Director of Football of Les Reed commented: “Maarten is a goalkeeper with a wealth of top-level experience who will prove to be an important addition to the squad at this early stage of pre-season.

“While Fraser Forster’s rehabilitation is progressing well, adding Maarten to our squad alongside Kelvin Davis and Paulo Gazzaniga will give us strength in depth for what will be a busy season.

“Maarten enjoyed tremendous success in Holland with Ajax and on the international stage, playing in the 2010 World Cup final. His experience will be invaluable to us, especially with the arrival of European football.

“There was strong competition for Maarten’s services, so we are very pleased he has committed to our cause.”

Stekelenburg added: “I’m very pleased that I’ve joined.

“It’s a big, nice club that will play European football – and I can play. Last year I didn’t play a lot, so it’s an opportunity for me. I’m grateful.

”The last two years weren’t the best of my career. As they say in England: the best is yet to come.”