Premier League newcomers Southampton completed their long-awaited swoop for Bologna's Uruguay playmaker Gaston Ramirez on Friday.
Ramirez agreed a four-year contract with Nigel Adkins' team after making a verbal agreement to join the club last week.
The 21-year-old was being chased by several top European sides and is a significant capture for the Saints, who are back in the Premier League after a seven-year absence.
Adkins, who is reported to have paid a club record £12 million for Ramirez, told Southampton's website: "A lot of hard work has gone in from the football club with a lot of negotiations behind the scenes to get this deal done.
"Great credit to everyone because we have a young, exciting talent joining us who is one of the best around.
"The chairman has gone and backed this deal big-time with the financial outlay, and what we have got is one of the most exciting prospects in world football coming to St Mary's.
"There is a lot of ambition at the football club and we are all delighted that Gaston is going to come and join us."
Ramirez, who has 10 caps for Uruguay, made 33 league appearances for Bologna last season, scoring eight times as the Italian club secured a top-half finish in Serie A.
Source: AFP
