Southampton made six first-team sales this summer as Sport Republic have looked to balance the books and trim the squad ready for the Premier League.
Those six departures have helped allow Russell Martin to welcome 14 first-team arrivals to his Southampton squad, with additions clearly needed ahead of the return to the top flight.
Aaron Ramsdale’s £25 million Deadline Day signing was undoubtedly the most high-profile as well as the most expensive, but the arrivals of Mateus Fernandes, Yukinari Sugawara and Cameron Archer are all exciting for their own reasons too.
With so many incomings, departures have been necessary with Southampton still hoping to capitalise on the transfer window closing later in Turkey to offload the likes of Paul Onuachu, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Kamaldeen Sulemana.
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Those three players remain at the club for now, though, so let’s take a look at how those who were sold this summer have got on for their new clubs in the early weeks of the season.
Carlos Alcaraz and Lyanco both see red in Brazil
Southampton’s most significant sale of the summer was that of Carlos Alcaraz to Flamengo, with the Brazilian side paying £19 million to sign the eccentric midfielder.
After a summer of speculation Southampton decided Flamengo’s offer was one they should accept, with Alcaraz’s red card in the penultimate pre-season friendly of the summer perhaps a contributing factor.
The red card in that friendly was shown to the 21-year-old as he got involved with a number of Lazio players in an attempt to stick up for Shea Charles and it is exactly the same situation that saw Alcaraz sent off late on his Flamengo debut.
A horribly rash challenge from Yuri Alberto – who Saints were linked with this summer – resulted in a mass brawl in which Alcaraz was a protagonist and was ultimately sent off.
Lyanco is similarly known for his short fuse and passion and has also been sent off since his move to Atletico Mineiro early in the summer.
The centre-back has not enjoyed the best of times since returning to his homeland so far, starting just two league games.
How Sekou Mara and Duje Caleta-Car have got on since France return
Having signed Sekou Mara for £11 million in summer 2022, Southampton decided to cut their losses on the 22-year-old and accept a bid from Strasbourg late in the transfer window.
Much earlier in the summer, the Saints were boosted by the fact that Lyon had decided to trigger their option to buy for Duje Caleta-Car, who spent last season on loan at the French club and had no future at Southampton.
Caleta-Car has started all three league games for Lyon so far this season, losing two and winning one, whilst Mara has come off the bench twice since signing for Strasbourg but is yet to make a telling contribution.
The two players actually faced each other in the last game before the current international break, with Caleta-Car’s Lyon running out 4-3 winners.
Romain Perraud enjoying decent start to life in Spain
Many felt Southampton should have tried to keep Romain Perraud at the club last season but Martin sanctioned the left-back’s loan to Nice as he favoured his own signing in Ryan Manning.
Perraud struggled at Nice, starting just two league games, but has enjoyed a much better start to life since his £3 million move to Real Betis.
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The aggressive defender has started two of Betis’ three La Liga games so far and featured in the Europa Conference League qualifier triumph over Kryvbas, keeping three clean sheets in his five appearances so far.
The only other first-team sale was that of goalkeeper Mateusz Lis who left for Southampton’s sister club Goztepe having never made a competitive appearance for the Saints since signing in 2022.
Lis was crucial as Goztepe were promoted to the Turkish top flight last season and has played both games since signing permanently, captaining the side on each occasion.