Southampton sign Maxwel Cornet on loan from West Ham
(Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Southampton have signed Ivorian winger Maxwel Cornet from West Ham on a season-long loan, with the 27-year-old becoming the 14th new addition at Southampton this summer.

After revealing that a new forward option was high up on the Saints' to-do list, Russell Martin has added Cornet to his list of options, but he will be unable to play against Brentford after missing the registration deadline.

Cornet, who is entering his fourth season as a Premier League footballer, has found game time hard to come by in the claret and blue of West Ham, with a move to the south coast, hopefully, enabling him to get his career back on track.

  • His career so far...

The Ivorian had a rather successful career in France before moving to England, with the winger starting out in the third tier playing for Metz.

He made his debut at 15-years-old - yes, you read that right - and went on to make his Ligue 2 debut less than a year later.

After showing good promise, Ligue 1 club Lyon took a chance on the youngster and it is one that certainly paid off. 

Maxwel Cornet up against Kevin De Bruyne in the Champions League for Lyon - (Photo by Franck Fife/Pool via Getty Images)
Maxwel Cornet up against Kevin De Bruyne in the Champions League for Lyon - (Photo by Franck Fife/Pool via Getty Images)

The following season, Cornet became a regular in the side at left wing and netted eight times in 31 games - holding down that position for the next five years.

21 goals and 16 assists later, he was tried at left-back following injuries within the side, a position he flourished in and made his own - keeping the out-and-out left-backs on the bench.

The following season, Burnley snapped him up for around £13m and he netted nine times in his debut top-flight season, an impressive record for a Championship-bound side.

Despite a relegation added to his CV, West Ham acquired his services for £17m in 2022, although he hasn't been able to make at name for himself in East London.

A calf injury, as well as having Jarod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus ahead of him in the pecking order, meant that his chances have been severely limited and his career has been put on hold - hence his move to Southampton. 

  • What to expect from Cornet

Cornet is a versatile, hard-working and technically-gifted individual. He can play at left-back, left wing-back, left-wing and even as a striker, with the Ivorian always giving his all wherever he is told to play.

His attitude and work rate suits Martin's philosophy, especially when without the ball, and he will be an excellent individual to have as a squad player, at the very least that is!

Maxwel Cornet dribbling past defenders during a European night at the London Stadium - (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Maxwel Cornet dribbling past defenders during a European night at the London Stadium - (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

However, his best attributes are going forward, in particular his dynamism and explosivity when in possession. When out wide, he likes to dribble with the ball and take players on with speed and occasional trickery, whilst also possessing the ability of creating something out of nothing.

His goal record speaks for itself and if he can rekindle some of the form he showed in a struggling Burnley side, Southampton might just have a serious player on their hands.

  • What is next for Southampton?

With Cornet quickly following Aaron Ramsdale and Ryan Fraser through the door at St Mary's, incomings are now complete.

The deadline has now passed, meaning any outgoings are highly unlikely, with Sam Eodzie's proposed move to Rangers now off.

This means that Russell Martin will have to manage a much larger squad than he would have first envisaged, with a few key players potentially missing out on the Premier League 25-man squad.

His side travel to Brentford to try and pick up their first points of the season just before the international break.