SAINTS are set to announce they have completed the signing of Nathaniel Clyne.

The 21-year-old right back emerged as one of Nigel Adkins ’ top summer targets, and the player is understood to have agreed to a four-year deal to come to St Mary's.

Clyne revealed on his Twitter page this evening that he was on his way to Geneva to join up with the squad on their pre-season tour, while changing his biography to confirm he is a Southampton player.

The only stumbling block had been over a fee, with Crystal Palace valuing the player at £4m.

However, a deal has been agreed which is believed to be worth just over half that with a sell-on clause included.

Clyne was out of contract and if Palace had dug their heels in then the player could still have joined Saints with a tribunal setting a fee at a later date.

It is understood that both Palace and Saints were always keen to try and ensure a clean deal was struck to save it dragging on.

Thoughts of Saints adding a second Palace player, pacy winger Wilfried Zaha, are on the back burner for the time being – though not totally ruled out – with Palace determined to try and hold onto their man in the face of losing Clyne.

Palace were resigned to losing Clyne this summer and his signing is a coup for Saints with Manchester United, Newcastle, Reading, Fulham and West Ham also having been reportedly interested.

Stockwell born Clyne has won caps at England under-19 and under-21 level and has already made 137 appearances for Palace, scoring one goal.

He was named in last season’s PFA Championship team of the year.