CENTRAL defender Jack Stephens had joined AFC Bournemouth on loan from Saints.
The 28-year-old arrives at Vitality Stadium on a season-long deal, with Cherries having no obligation or option to buy him at the end of the spell.
Cornwall-born Stephens has been at Saints for more than a decade, having signed from Plymouth in April 2011 for a reported £150,000.
Having initially started in the club’s development squad, the former England under-21 international has gone on to play 151 games for the south coast side at senior level.
Stephens has previously been out on loan at the likes of Swindon, Middlesbrough and Coventry City during his time at Saints.
He suffered an injury-hit campaign in 2021-22, making 11 Premier League appearances.
The defender, who had also been linked with Watford this summer, played in Saints’ opening two Premier League games – but did not feature in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad since.
Cherries had been keen to add a centre-back to their ranks, having seen Gary Cahill’s contract expire in the summer, as well as Nat Phillips’s loan deal from Liverpool.
