Southampton sign Jordy Clasie as replacement for Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin

Southampton have moved quickly to secure a replacement for Manchester United's Morgan Schneiderlin by signing Jordy Clasie from Feyenoord.

Highly rated French midfielder Schneiderlin exited St Mary's after seven years, two promotions and more than 200 appearances on Monday (13 July), becoming Louis van Gaal's third signing of the summer in a deal believed to be worth £25m ($39.1m, €36m).

Despite the previous high-profile exits of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne, the 25-year-old was widely considered to have been Southampton's most consistently impressive performer over recent seasons and as such it was predicted that manager Ronald Koeman may find his loss much more difficult to compensate.

Clasie would appear to fit the bill perfectly, however, with the Saints confirming his arrival on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee that BBC Sport claims to be in the region of approximately £8m.

"It's a big step," Clasie told Southampton's official YouTube channel following confirmation of the switch. "Some people said to me that maybe it's too big, but I like it. For me, it's not difficult to come here.

"Every player has ambition, and for me England is the best league – that's why I came here. For me, I think this was the right time. I've played four years in the first team at Feyenoord and was at the club for 15 years. It was not easy for me to leave, but I felt this was the right moment.

"I spoke with my family and my girlfriend and we said together that this was the right moment. This club wanted me and the trainer spoke to me, and that feels good. It was not a problem for me to come here. From the first moment, it feels good."

For Clasie, a switch to Southampton sees him reunite once again with Koeman, whom he worked with extensively at Feyenoord during the latter's spell in charge at De Kuip between 2011-14.

With the Dutch international having served as captain under his compatriot in the Eredivisie, Southampton's executive director of football Les Reed described the transfer as an ideal outcome for all parties.

He said: "Jordy is one of the most highly sought-after midfielders in Europe. His qualities are plain to see for anybody who has watched his development over the past few years as closely as we have, and we are delighted that he will continue his growth at Southampton.

"Like Cédric Soares and Juanmi, he has emerged from an academy with a set of values closely aligned to our own and has spent the entirety of his prior professional career contracted to one club.

"With Jordy having played for Ronald Koeman for three years at Feyenoord, this is the perfect move for both the player and Southampton Football Club."

If you believe widespread transfer speculation, then Clasie's move to the Premier League has certainly been a long time coming.

After featuring under Van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup, The Mirror claimed that Manchester United were looking to sign the player along with teammate Bruno Martins Indi, who eventually left Feyenoord in favour of a move to FC Porto.

Clasie ignored those initial overtures, instead choosing to remain in his homeland for an extra season during which he made 33 appearances as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side finished fourth in the Eredivisie, 29 points adrift of champions PSV Eindhoven.

He is Southampton's fifth signing of the summer so far, following Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Cuco Martina, Cedric Soares and Spanish striker Juanmi down to the south coast.