SAINTS have completed the signing of Jordy Clasie, with the midfielder putting pen to paper on a five-year contract at the club.

Clasie, 24, has joined from Feyenoord in a deal that is believed to be worth up to £8.5m.

The Dutch international becomes the fifth signing of the summer at St Mary’s and arrives as the obvious replacement for Morgan Schneiderlin, following his move to Manchester United this week.

Executive director of football Les Reed said: "Jordy is one of the most highly sought-after midfielders in Europe.

"His qualities are plain to see for anybody who has watched his development over the past few years as closely as we have, and we are delighted that he will continue his growth at Southampton.

“Like Cédric Soares and Juanmi, he has emerged from an academy with a set of values closely aligned to our own and has spent the entirety of his prior professional career contracted to one club.

“With Jordy having played for Ronald Koeman for three years at Feyenoord, this is the perfect move for both the player and Southampton Football Club.”

Clasie added: “It feels good to be joining Southampton. It’s a nice club, and I’m happy to be here. It’s a big club playing in what I think is the biggest and most important league.

“Ronald being here is a big thing for me and that was important in me coming here, but even if he wasn’t here, I’d have come to this club.

“I played every game for him. He’s a good trainer and a good man so I like him, but I came here not only for him, I came here for the club.

“I’ve watched many games of Southampton, and it’s felt good when I’ve watched the games. I hope that I have many good moments and good years here.”

A product of Feyenoord’s youth system, Clasie is now reunited with Saints manager Ronald Koeman, having played under him during his time at De Kuip, twice helping the team to a runner-up finish in the Eredivisie – in 2011/12 and 2013/14.

He played 155 times for the Rotterdam club in total, scoring eight goals, and has been capped 11 times for the Netherlands.

Two of those appearances came at the 2014 World Cup finals, with Clasie starting in the 3-0 win over hosts Brazil in the third-place play-off match.

One of Clasie’s first games for Saints could be against Feyenoord, with the club visiting them for a pre-season friendly next Thursday.