SportValery signs fresh Southampton deal

© Getty Yan Valery equalised for Southampton at home to Tottenham on Saturday

Yan Valery has signed a contract extension at Southampton, keeping him at the Premier League club until 2023.

The 20-year-old Frenchman, who can operate as a right-back or right midfielder, has become a regular starter under Ralph Hasenhuttl, making his top-flight debut under the Austrian against Manchester United in January.

Valery has gone on to feature in 16 Premier League games this season, scoring in his last two matches against United and Tottenham respectively, the latter of which sparked a late comeback which saw the Saints win 2-1 on Saturday.

Yan Valery is Southampton's most exciting young player

Southampton took a big risk in January as they neglected to sign a new right-back following the loan exit of Cedric Soares, with Ralph Hasenhuttl placing his trust in academy graduate Yan Valery. When the Portuguese international completed his move to Inter Milan until the end of the season, Valery had played only 10 games of senior football after being thrown in at the deep end. Mark Hughes started the Frenchman in Southampton’s Carabao Cup

Proud day for me and my family today. Delighted to have signed a new long-term deal at this great club @SouthamptonFC . Looking forward to the up and coming years. Ready to express myself and show the fans what I can do ???????? pic.twitter.com/NuFERAKihW

— Yan Valery (@yan_valery) March 14, 2019

"Yan's development has been fantastic in the last few months," Hasenhuttl said. "I think he is a player who embodies precisely the philosophy of Southampton, as he is young and forward-thinking.

"He has been given trust by us, and in return he has shown exactly what we want to see, which is a brave player who believes in himself and is willing to work on his deficits to get better.

"Already you can see Yan has improved defensively, and his goals against teams like Manchester United and Tottenham are big signs of how much his confidence has been growing."

Hasenhuttl heaps praise on Valery

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has praised Yan Valery for his performance in the team’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester United. Speaking to the club’s official website after the match, the Austrian was quick to lavish praise on the young defender following his first ever goal in senior football. Valery opened the scoring with a thunderous effort from outside the box on the right-hand side. However, his goal would eventually count for little as Manchester United were able to secure a late victory in front of their home fans.

It's only when you watch it back from this angle that you appreciate just how far out that @yan_valery goal against #MUFC was...???? #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/KnOurWeLmE

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 5, 2019

Valery added that he is now focused on helping 16th-placed Southampton keep their place in the Premier League next season.

"It's a big step," he said. "It proves the club believe in me, and I am really proud and happy to sign again for this club. It is the club that gave me my chance.

"This manager has given me all of his trust, so I am just happy to sign again and I can't wait now to give everything I've got to help the club stay in the Premier League and to keep working hard and improve my game and be a better player than I am now."

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