Mohammed Salisu has revealed that his transfer move from Real Valladolid to Southampton is a dream come true for him.
The 21-year-old centre-back was announced as a Southampton player on Wednesday night after completing that switch in a deal believed to be around £10.9 million.
He has also penned a four-year deal with the club which runs until 2024 after enjoying two years of football in Spain. It took took the youngster less than a year to earn promotion into the first team, making 32 appearances across all competitions for the Spanish side in the 2019/20 campaign.
And Salisu, who grew up in Ghana watching the Premier League is now relishing the chance to also be involved in the top-flight starting September.
“For me, it has been a dream since I was a child to play in the Premier League and I am very, very happy to be here,” he said. “We all know it is a very tough league, but I am ready for everything to put all I can into helping the team.
“It is a very good feeling to be a Southampton player. I am very happy to be part of the club and I am looking forward to starting here.
“It’s a very good club for me to develop my skills and to learn a lot as a young player and I’m very happy to join. Southampton has a fantastic history in developing young players and I hope I do my best to add to that group.”
The Ghanaian also spoke of the well wishes he has been met with on social media after sealing a move, and adds that he looks forward to working hard to make everyone happy.
“I saw it and I am very happy they are welcoming me so warmly and that they are happy with me,” he said. “I am going to try my best to put happiness on their faces.”
The defender also hyped to get started at the St Mary’s Stadium, having completed all formalities involved in the deal with the UK coronavirus protocols inclusive.
“It’s been very strange. As we all know, the virus has created a lot of damages, and for me this is the first time I can’t go home,” he said. “I have moved to the UK to sign and then quarantine for 14 days, so I have found this very tiring. I hope we can find a vaccine soon.
“Now I am in quarantine and I hope I will come out next week and will start training with the first-team and I will be very happy to meet my new teammates. I am looking forward to starting and getting to know everyone in the team.”
Salisu added: “I must thank my family for supporting me and believing in me, as well as my team from Ghana where I started, I want to thank them because they really helped me. The African Talent Football Academy too, because without them I would not have reached where I am today. They helped me and they brought me to Europe.
“I also want to thank Real Valladolid – they really helped me a lot and they always motivated me and I am very grateful for them and I really appreciate. Also my agent, I want to give thanks to him, because without him I would not be here.”
