SHANE Long has officially departed Saints after eight years with the club, following the end of his contract.

The 35-year-old Irishman arrived at St Mary’s from Hull City in 2014, going on to make 243 appearances.

Long is the 2016 Daily Echo Player of the Year winner, becoming the 43rd player to pick up the award following his most prolific season at the club – scoring 10 Premier League goals in 28 matches.

The striker, who has 342 Premier League appearances to his name across stints with Reading, West Brom, Hull and Saints, contributed 64 goals and assists with the St Mary’s side.

Long signed a two-year contract in summer 2020 despite only scoring twice in the league that season, after making 26 appearances.

The Saints hero scored the fastest goal in Premier League history with an opener versus Watford inside 7.69 seconds in 2018-19.

Long signed off his Saints career with notches against Swansea in the FA Cup and Everton in the Premier League, in 2022.

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