Southampton completed quite a coup by capturing talented defender Dejan Lovren from French club Lyon.
Lovren has been tracked by some of the biggest clubs in the world, but Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted to have signed Lovren for a fee believed to be around £7 million ($11 million).
"Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of in-demand defender Dejan Lovren," the club said in a statement on their website.
"The 23-year-old has agreed a four-year contract with Saints and moves from French side Olympique Lyonnais for an undisclosed fee."
Lovren started his career with Dinamo Zagreb, before switching to Lyon in 2010, and going on to become one of the brightest young central defenders in Europe.
The Croatian international said he is looking forward to joining up with Southampton's young team and envisages a bright future for the club.
"I've spoken a lot with the chairman (Nicola Cortese) and the coach (Pochetino), and this is a great project," Lovren said.
"They told me a lot of positive things, and I know the history of the Club. It's a big club and I'm very happy that I can be a part of it.
"After three-and-a-half years in France, it was a dream to play in the Premier League. Now the dream has come true.
"I have it in my mind to do something big, and I see the same thing in the Club.
"We are a young team, and I am a young player also so I hope I will stay here for a long time."
Pochetino was happy to have completed such a big signing so early in the season.
"We are very happy because Dejan is a very good player with good potential," the manager said.
"In preseason it's important to have all players working together, so (Lovren's signing) is a very good job by the chairman and all of the staff at the club."
