Southampton stalwart Jose Fonte has completed a move to West Ham for a fee which could rise to £9m.

The 33-year-old centre half, who joined the club seven years ago, has moved to the Hammers for an initial fee of £8m, which could rise to £9m depending on add-ons.

Fonte, the Saints skipper, was the last remaining player from the side who helped Saints out of League One and back to the Premier League.

He made more than 250 appearances for Saints, including the back-to-back promotions and winning the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Wembley, and also became a Portugal international during his time with the club, leading to him winning Euro 2016 last summer.

However, he grew increasingly unsettled at St Mary’s, and made it clear several months ago that he wanted a new challenge with one last big move left in his career.

He was widely linked with Manchester United, but in the end it was West Ham who came in for him to end a stalemate caused by the centre half refusing the offer of a new deal at Saints.

Fonte had just 18 months left on his Saints contract, and was offered a pay rise and the chance for an extra year’s extension, but turned it down to seek pastures new.

He will return to St Mary’s in double quick time with Saints welcoming West Ham on February 4.

Claude Puel opted not to play Fonte during the January transfer window due to the unsettling nature of the speculation.

He must now decide whether to bring in a replacement or stick with the four centre halves he has at his disposal – Virgil van Dijk, Maya Yoshida, Jack Stephens and Florin Gardos – for the remainder of the season.