On a busy transfer deadline day across the Premier League, Southampton secured the signing of former academy graduate Theo Walcott on loan from Everton.
The 31-year-old left Saints for Arsenal in 2006, going on to win three FA Cups and two Community Shields with the Gunners before moving to Goodison Park.
The right-winger has played three seasons at the Toffees and comes back to St. Mary’s having amassed 374 top flight appearances, registering 75 goals and 51 assists.
Walcott will take the no.32 jersey that he wore in his first spell at the club where he scored four times in 21 games in the Championship, further adding to the sentiment of the transfer.
Back to where it all began
And it is a sentiment that Walcott can’t help but draw upon, telling the club’s official website that he always thought this day would come.
“Even when I went to Arsenal and Everton, I always felt like I always wanted Southampton to do well,” he said.
“So much happened in such a short time and I just felt like ‘I want to come back one day’, and now it’s a dream come true.”
London-born Walcott joined Saints at the age of 11 from Swindon Town before breaking through, earning him the big move to Arsenal and a spot at the World Cup in 2006 as just a 17-year-old.
The pacey winger has racked up the experience since then at both club and international level, something he is confident will help him transition into a new style.
“I’ve been in the game a long time now so I know how to adapt fairly quickly,” he said.
Hungry to get to work
Known for his speed down the right hand side of Arsene Wenger’s sides at the Emirates, Walcott believes his game will suit the style at Southampton after having spoken to Ralph Hasenhuttl before the move.
“I managed to speak to the manager and the way that they press and do a lot of things off the ball, I feel like that’s going to fit into my style pretty well,” he said.
Sentiment and feeling aside, Walcott stressed that he arrives with motivation and desire to “push on and help this team,” adding that he hopes to inspire the young players in the squad.
“I’m not here to make up the numbers at all. I’m here to play and perform and work hard,” he said.
“That side of me (competitiveness) is going to be very important to the squad, to hopefully push people on to get them to the next level as well.”
Walcott could be line for a second Saints debut when they go to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea after the international break having made his first appearance of the season in Everton’s last match against Brighton and Hove Albion.