Southampton have signed the Chelsea forward Armando Broja on a season’s loan and striker Adam Armstrong from Blackburn in a deal worth up to £15m.
Saints targeted the 24-year-old Armstrong, who scored 29 goals last season, as a replacement for Ings, who joined Aston Villa last week. The striker has signed a four-year deal at St Mary’s.
“It’s unbelievable to be here – such a massive club with a great fanbase and it’s just something that I’m really looking forward to,” Armstrong said. “I thought it was perfect as my next step. I wanted to get back to the Premier League from what I’ve done for Blackburn, so I’m over the moon.”
Broja, who spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Vitesse in the Netherlands and turns 20 next month, gives them further options. He got 11 goals in 34 appearances to help Vitesse to finish fourth in the Eredivisie.
“Armando is a very talented player who we were impressed by last season,” said Southampton’s manager, Ralph Hasenhüttl. “He is young, but he comes now with a full season of experience in senior football with a good team and he brings a lot of qualities that can help us. He is a strong, quick player with a good instinct.”
Armstrong, who had less than 12 months remaining on his contract, also attracted interest from Crystal Palace and Norwich. Blackburn had been holding out for closer to £20m but Saints made a breakthrough with their latest bid.
Armstrong was left out of Blackburn’s squad for their opening-day victory against Swansea on Saturday. Newcastle, who sold Armstrong to Blackburn in 2018, are due 40% of the profit from the sale.
Broja, an Albania international, is the third player to move this summer from Chelsea to Southampton, who have also signed the teenagers Tino Livramento and Dynel Simeu.
Ings scored 41 league goals in 91 games for Southampton in three years and he was top scorer in each season.
