Southampton youngster Calum Chambers has turned down Liverpool in favour or penning a four year deal at St Mary’s.
Saints have secured the foreseeable future of many of their starlets coming through their academy in hope that they don’t move on just as the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gareth Bale have done.
James Ward-Prowse, Lloyd Isgrove, Jordan Turnbull and Jack Stephens have all signed new contracts during the past 12 months.
Highly-rated left-back Luke Shaw has also recently agreed a new deal and 18-year-old Chambers has now followed suit.
Chambers told the club’s official website, "It's fantastic – it's like my dream, really," said a delighted Chambers after putting pen to paper.
"I've been at the Club since I was so young, so this is a great feeling. I've been here since I was seven and I've been treated really well so it means the world.
"The Club has a great set-up and it's going through a really good time at the moment. There are going to be big things from Southampton in the future.
"I've always wanted to play for the First Team at this club, and this is another step towards that," he continued.
"I'd like to push myself into the First Team and to prove myself there. I went out [to Spain and Austria] to prove a point because I feel I'm ready, and hopefully I have done that.
"There is a pathway from the Academy for everyone, and hopefully I'm showing that now so I really want to step on.”
Whilst boss Mauricio Pochettino added, "I'm delighted to see another young player commit their future to the Club.
"Calum has shown in his performances in pre-season that he is more than capable of performing at this level, and we hope that this commitment allows him to push on and thrive within the First Team environment.
"He settled into the group nicely during our training camp, demonstrating his maturity off the pitch as well as his quality and potential on it while playing against a good standard of opposition.
"From the beginning of my time at Southampton, Nicola [Cortese, Executive Chairman] spoke to me of his project of bringing young talented players through the Academy and into the First Team, and that was something that really appealed to me.
"To now see Calum – along with many others – make that step up pays great testament to the hard work that goes on here that is driven from the very top."
The Daily Star reported that Liverpool was interested in snaring Chambers.
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