Transfer news: Southampton starlet Sam McQueen signs new deal

Southampton have tied down talented teenager Sam McQueen to a new long-term, four-year deal.

The 19-year-old is one of the latest graduates of Southampton's famed academy, and he made his breakthrough into the first-team squad last season.

McQueen made his senior debut in the FA Cup against Sunderland, and is expected to push on for a Premier League bow this coming season.

The Southampton-born teenager's progress has now been rewarded after coming through the ranks along with the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Luke Shaw and Callum Chambers - who also all enjoyed excellent campaigns last term.

McQueen said: “It’s a milestone for me and it’s something that I’ve been aiming for in recent years. 

“It’s something which has been talked about and that I’ve been aiming at for a while so to finally get it and have it signed is a dream come true now. Four years is more than I could have hoped for, so now I’ll get my head down to start as soon as possible.”

On having a few other familiar faces around him in the squad, McQueen is also relishing training and playing alongside Shaw, Ward-Prowse et al.

“I’ve known them since I was young and we have come through together so we are good friends,” said Sam. “We’ve all played football together and worked together a lot so we’ve get on well, but more than that I’ve been around the first team towards the end of last season so I know a few in the squad too. 

“I’ve talked to a few of them, they’re all a friendly bunch so I’m hoping to be around them as much as possible in the coming years, which is something to look forward to.

“At Southampton [the promotion of young players] is what they do – they’ve always produced young players as everyone knows and there’s even more coming through. 

“In the years below me – or even in my year, [where] you’ve got Dom Gape who I think could be another to come in as he’s been playing really well – there’s Matt Targett and Jason McCarthy so there’s definitely more coming through. It’s just encouraging when the next one steps up then the one after that – it keeps going, so it’s all positive.”