Southampton Star Bazunu Joins Stoke on Loan

Southampton's goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu, has been loaned to Stoke City for the rest of the current season. This move addresses Stoke's need for a new first-choice keeper following Viktor Johansson's recent surgery for a long-term shoulder injury. Bazunu, who has 22 caps for the Republic of Ireland, joins Stoke with prior experience in the Premier League and a proven track record of promotion from the Championship.

Bazunu made 96 appearances for Southampton after his £12 million transfer from Manchester City in 2022, contributing to their promotion to the Premier League two seasons ago. However, he lost his starting position and was subsequently loaned to Standard Liege last season. He has featured 19 times in the Championship this term, but Southampton recently secured Daniel Peretz on loan from Bayern Munich.

Stoke's sporting director, Jonathan Walters, emphasized Bazunu's experience and knowledge of the division as crucial assets for their promotion campaign. The loan deal reportedly includes an option for Stoke to make the transfer permanent in the summer. Stoke currently sits eighth in the Championship, one point outside the play-off places, with Bazunu expressing excitement about joining the team's push for promotion.