Southampton have completed the signing of Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.
The 23-year-old former Barcelona graduate has endured a difficult four years as a Chelsea player, as he has made just 22 Premier League appearances for the West London club in a spell that has also included loan periods with Valencia and Stuttgart.
He represented Spain from under-17 to under-23, and played at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Now he will look to relaunch his career in the Premier League with Ronald Koeman's Saints after a fee reported to be in the region of £4 million was agreed between the two clubs.
Romeu told the club's official website: "It's very good to be a part of this club. I was looking for a good club and for something new in my career.
"After spending two years on loan, I needed something permanent and a club with a future -- and I think I chose the right one. Southampton are doing the right things in the last few years and, once they came to me and asked me to come here, from the first day I was hoping to come.
"Now I just want to keep going and to keep developing as a player, and I'm looking forward to start playing as soon as possible."
Executive Director of Football Les Reed added: "We are extremely happy to be able to bring Oriol to the club on a permanent basis. Once again, we are demonstrating our commitment to compete seriously on all fronts this season by continuing to build a squad with depth and quality.
"Oriol is a player we have had on the radar for some time -- he was a prominent figure in the Chelsea team of 2011-12, when he made 24 appearances as a 20 year-old. Like Ryan Bertrand, we believe we have recruited another Chelsea player with an excellent pedigree but also with lots of potential to develop.
NEWS: #SaintsFC signs Spanish midfielder @OriolRomeu until 2018 - http://t.co/fRXRenTqhy pic.twitter.com/asWJXUSAdk
- Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 12, 2015
"He is another player who matches the Southampton profile -- he is young and hungry, has been developed at a top academy and has already played at the highest level with plenty more to come.
"He will complement the qualities we already have among our squad and provide another level of competition for selection."
Romeu is the seventh new addition added to the Southampton squad this summer, with Spain forward Juanmi arriving from Malaga, Portuguese defender Cedric Soares signing from Sporting Lisbon, Curacao full-back Cuco Martina signed from FC Twente and Jordy Clasie recruited from Feyenoord.
Koeman has also signed off on season-long loan deals for QPR defender Steven Caulker and Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, with the Saints boss eager to boost his squad numbers ahead of a season that he hopes will include an extended run in the Europa League.
Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne are among the high profile departures from Southampton this summer, but Koeman is convinced he has strengthened his squad with the challenge of Europa League football on Thursday nights.
"I'm not worried about playing in Europe and playing in the Premier League because I believe in the qualities of the players, the spirit of the players and to do it well in both competitions," Koeman said last week.
"I have the experience of coaching teams in the league and then playing in the Champions League. That is one of the reasons why I have a full and strong squad with balance of the team to manage both competitions.
"We didn't let as many players leave as last season which is very important. We lost quality players but the replacements were the same quality. We are in a good place."
Meanwhile, ESPN sources have been told that Southampton are also pursuing their interest in Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk, although the Scottish champions are reluctant to sell their Dutch international until after their Champions League playoff game against Malmo later this month.