Exclusive: £18m Southampton Star Tells Club he Wants to Leave
Aaron Ramsdale has informed Southampton of his desire to leave the club this summer, GIVEMESPORT understands.
The England international only joined the Saints in 2024 for an initial fee of £18m, making a surprise switch from Arsenal in search of regular first-team football. But following Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2024/25 season, Ramsdale is now looking to move on, just one year into his time at St Mary’s.
Ramsdale Does Not See Long-Term Future at Southampton
Goalkeeper has interest from West Ham and Sunderland
Sources have told GIVEMESPORT that Ramsdale does not see his long-term future at the club and is open to a move away before the transfer window closes. While Southampton would prefer to keep hold of the 27-year-old as they prepare for life back in the Championship, they are aware of the goalkeeper’s ambition to return to the top flight.
There has been interest from clubs in Turkey, as well as from West Ham United and Sunderland, who are both monitoring Ramsdale’s situation. While overseas sides could offer European football and guaranteed game time, Ramsdale’s preference is believed to be staying in England.
The former Arsenal and Sheffield United shot-stopper lost his starting spot at the Emirates following the arrival of David Raya and made just a handful of appearances during his final season with the Gunners. A move to Southampton was seen as an opportunity to reignite his career with regular minutes, and he featured consistently throughout the second half of the campaign. Still, Southampton were unable to avoid the drop.
Ramsdale Would Cost Significant Fee
Reports suggest he has £20m release clause
Ramsdale has two years remaining on his current deal, with the club also holding an option to extend it by a further year. That means any permanent transfer would likely involve a significant fee, with the Times reporting the player has a relegation release clause worth £20m.
With over 150 Premier League appearances to his name and past involvement in Gareth Southgate’s England squads, Ramsdale remains a high-profile figure in the goalkeeper market. As clubs begin to firm up their plans ahead of the new season, interest in the 27-year-old is expected to intensify.
Southampton, now preparing for a return to the Championship, may need to line up a replacement should they agree to let Ramsdale move on in the coming weeks.
Sheffield United’s Gus Hamer future plan as boss sees positive transfer signs from Leeds United-linked star
If Gus Hamer does harbour any ambitions of leaving Sheffield United this summer, then he did a good job of hiding them on day five of the Blades’ warm-weather training camp in Girona today. The 28-year-old looked like a man content as United stepped up their preparations for the new season, joking with teammates and club staff in the Spanish sun.
Hamer’s future is expected to dominate the news agenda all summer and after winning the Championship player of the year award last term, he has suitors elsewhere. Leeds United, the Blades’ Yorkshire rivals, are confirmed admirers, launching a cheeky bid last summer which was quickly rebuffed, but they have Premier League football – and the subsequent riches that brings – in their favour if they launch another bid.
Rondos and relaxation – Inside United’s Spanish training camp
Selles answers transfer question after Souza loss leaves Blades light
Exclusive – Brewster contract latest as free agent ex-Blade linked with Sunderland
The Brazilian-born Dutchman has also attracted interest from abroad but is understood to be settled in the area and the hope is that he remains a Blade beyond the closure of the transfer window on September 1.
What is expected to change for Hamer is his position next term, after Ruben Selles took over from Chris Wilder in the Bramall Lane hotseat last month. Last term, as United finished third in the Championship table and won 92 points but lost in the play-off final to Sunderland, Hamer excelled from a free-role position off the left of United’s attack.
Ruben Selles has already outlined Gus Hamer’s Sheffield United future plans after transfer hint over Blades key man
But Selles sees Hamer in a more central position, should he remain at Bramall Lane, whilst reserving the right to return him to a left-sided position should the need arise. The truth, in reality, is that Unitedites would accept him playing anywhere, as long as it was in a red and white shirt.
“What I can say about Gustavo is that he’s trained really hard,” Selles told The Star in a break from training in Girona. “He’s come back in a good shape, he’s done everything we’ve wanted him to do and he’s a vital player for us.
“If we can, we need to try and keep him and I think he’s happy where he is. Hopefully he’ll keep playing for us. He has been outstanding in terms of his character and behaviours, so nothing suggests to me that he will change.
“Obviously you can never say never because football is football and sometimes there are things that you cannot control. But if I can choose, and from watching his attitude, I would like to keep him with us, and I think he is happy where he is.”
Leave a Reply