Southampton have agreed to sign centre-back Zach Awe, with a compensation payment going to Arsenal due to his age.

Mike McGrath reports that Southampton have agreed a deal to sign Zach Awe, who was released by Arsenal this summer.

Despite Awe technically being available as a free agent, Southampton still had to pay a compensation payment to Arsenal, as the defender is under the age of 23.

Southampton reportedly fought off strong competition for Awe’s signature, and he’s now expected to fight for a first-team place at centre-back under Russell Martin this season.

McGrath broke the news in June that Awe was set to leave Arsenal this summer, in search of regular senior football.

Awe made 35 appearances for the Arsenal u21s in 2022/23, almost all of them starts, making him one of the busiest players in the entire squad.

The teenager was also involved in the Arsenal first-team squad in the past, making the bench for a Premier League fixture against Wolves last year.

At around 6’4″, Awe certainly stands out physically in youth football. Despite his size and position, he also has good technique that can often catch the eye.

Arsenal’s u21 defence gave up goals too easily in 2022/23, and though it’s unfair to point the finger at any one player for those defensive issues, each of them should take their share of the blame for the seven months they went without a league clean sheet.

That last clean sheet, away to Spurs (who were ultimately relegated) in October, was the only clean sheet Mehmet Ali’s side kept in the Premier League 2 all season.

Having said that, Awe could certainly add quality to a side where he was a better fit, and the jump in physicality in senior football shouldn’t be as much of a problem for him as for some others.

Southampton could well be that club, given Awe’s technical prowess.