Chelsea: Blues midfielder Oriol Romeu joins Southampton on 3-year deal

Southampton have confirmed the arrival of Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu from Chelsea on a three-year deal, the deal has also been announced by the Blues.

"Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu on a three-year deal," a statement on the Saints' official site read.

The 23-year-old midfielder joined Chelsea in 2011 from Barcelona's famed La Masia academy. He went on to make 34 appearances for the Premier League champions, and was even on the bench for the Blues' victory over Bayern Munich in the final of the Champions League.

Romeu has since spent time away from Stamford Bridge, completing two consecutive loan spells with Stuttgart during the 2013/14 campaign and last season the midfielder was with Valencia in the La Liga.

Southampton are looking for reinforcements following the departure of Morgan Schneiderlin to Manchester United, and the club's executive director of football Les Reed is delighted to have signed the Spanish U21 international, whom he believes can help the club challenge on all fronts.

"We are extremely happy to be able to bring Oriol to the club on a permanent basis. Once again, we are demonstrating our commitment to compete seriously on all fronts this season by continuing to build a squad with depth and quality," Reed said, as quoted on Southampton's official site.

"Oriol is a player we have had on the radar for some time – he was a prominent figure in the Chelsea team of 2011/12, when he made 24 appearances as a 20 year-old."

"He is another player who matches the Southampton profile – he is young and hungry, has been developed at a top academy and has already played at the highest level with plenty more to come," the Saints director of football added.

Romeu also expressed delight at joining the Saints and revealed that he was looking for a permanent move following two loan spells.

"It's very good to be a part of this club. I was looking for a good club and for something new in my career," the Spaniard said.

"After spending two years on loan, I needed something permanent and a club with a future – and I think I chose the right one.

"Southampton are doing the right things in the last few years and, once they came to me and asked me to come here, from the first day I was hoping to come. Now I just want to keep going and to keep developing as a player, and I'm looking forward to start playing as soon as possible," Romeu added.