Chambers joins growing list of Saints graduates
Monday, July 28, 2014
Article summary
Arsenal FC new boy Calum Chambers is the latest in an impressive line of talented footballers to emerge from Southampton FC's academy, Gareth Bale included.
Article top media content
Article body
Teenager Calum Chambers has become the latest Southampton FC academy graduate to move on from St Mary's Stadium after completing his transfer to Arsenal FC. The England Under-19 right-back follows in the footsteps of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in swapping the south coast for Arsenal, signing for a reported fee of £16million.
Chambers, 19, only made his debut on the opening day of last season and gave his thanks to Southampton for their role in his development: "I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone at Southampton FC for everything they have done for me and for making this move possible." Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, added: "The way he adapted to the Premier League last season with Southampton at a young age shows that he has tremendous quality."
Chambers is just the latest in a long list of talented footballers to come off the Saints production line. UEFA.com looks at five other Southampton graduates, starting with Real Madrid CF star Gareth Bale.
Gareth Bale, Real Madrid CF
The Welshman is currently the most expensive player in history following his move to Real Madrid CF in summer 2013. The outlay proved worth it for the Spanish club, as Bale scored the Copa del Rey final winner in his first season as well as heading in the Merengues' second goal in May's UEFA Champions League final triumph. It all began for the Cardiff-born forward with a Southampton debut as a left-back at the age of 16 in April 2006. A move to Tottenham Hotspur FC followed and he has since developed into one of the world's most devastating attackers.
Theo Walcott, Arsenal FC
Shot to public attention when selected for England's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad at the age of 17, despite not having played a Premier League game. Southampton and England's youngest ever player only spent half a season with the senior team on the south coast, his pace and eye for goal tempting Arsenal to stump up a reported £12m fee in January 2006. An England hat-trick in Croatia is one of the career highlights to date for the 25-year-old whose progress has not been helped by bad luck with injuries, including a knee problem which ruled him out of this summer's World Cup.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal FC
The son of former England international Mark Chamberlain, he started training at Southampton from the age of seven and became the club's second youngest player after Walcott on his debut in March 2010. In his first full season he helped the club to promotion from the third tier before Arsène Wenger snapped him up in August 2011. Able to use his skill and power either on the wings or down the middle, he was given a new long-term deal after just 18 months. Started England's first game at UEFA EURO 2012 and was included in the 2014 World Cup squad, only to miss out through injury.
Adam Lallana, Liverpool FC
Unlike many other Southampton starlets who have made a big early impression then made a big-money transfer, the 26-year-old spent 14 years at the club before moving on this summer. After joining as a 12-year-old and making his debut in 2006, the clever, skilful playmaker appeared in three different divisions for the club, helping them to two promotions and a return to the Premier League after a seven-year absence. His reward came with international recognition in November 2013. Nine league goals in 2013/14 convinced Liverpool to pay £25m for his services.
Luke Shaw, Manchester United FC
Another man who made his debut for Southampton at 16, Shaw has only had two seasons of regular senior football but that was enough to convince Manchester United FC to pay a world-record fee for a teenager. The left-back stepped up to the Southampton first team at the start of the 2012/13 campaign and was first choice throughout the next two seasons. A thoroughly modern full-back with his attacking threat and crossing ability, he made his England debut against Denmark in February and did enough to go to the World Cup, where he featured once.