Southampton have confirmed that Lucas Defise, David Agbontohoma and James Morris have all signed their first professional contracts with the club, extending their time on the south coast.
Having featured for Saints at youth level, all three players have impressed David Horseman enough to be offered one-year deals to play for the Under 23s for the 2020/21 campaign.
Ex-AFC Wimbledon trainee Defise joined the famed Saints academy from Chelsea back in 2018 and has featured several times for the club at youth level, as well as receiving a call up to represent Belgium at youth level.
He will look to kick on in the coming months, telling the clubs official site “My aim is to have a good season with the Under-23s and hopefully make a first-team appearance. Others have shown it is possible, you can see there is a clear pathway, and seeing others very much motivates me.”
Former Arsenal defender Agbontohoma, who joined the club from the Gunners back in 2018, has also extended his stay at the club, and will no doubt be looking to build on the ten youth appearances he has made last season, including an appearance in the Football League Trophy.
Another player from along the coast?
Portsmouth-born Morris completes the trio of new contracts. The Hampshire native has played for the club at youth level over 250 times since joining the Under-10s and the young full-back will no doubt be looking to follow in captain James Ward Prowse’s steps by making the short trip along the coast to play for the Saints.