Smallbone excited to extend Saints stay
After spending last season away from Southampton, Will Smallbone is excited to be back at the place he’s called home since the age of eight.
The Republic of Ireland international has agreed a new three-year-contract, keeping him at St Mary’s until at least 2026 and bringing him close to two decades at the club.
Joining the Academy at eight years old, the midfielder rose through the ranks before spending last season on loan at Stoke City in the Championship.
Now back on the south coast, Smallbone is excited by the project being led by manager Russell Martin.
“I’ve been looking forward to coming back and pre-season reaffirmed that,” he said. “I think working with this manager the first few games, I’ve really enjoyed it.
“And for me coming back, not being here last year, coming back and seeing the change and everything that's happened has been a breath of fresh air.
I was really excited to work with the manager having played against them last year and their style of play, I thought it was something that would really help me. And yeah, it's only grown since I've come back, that belief and positivity in the side and myself now, I've really enjoyed it.
“The football has been brilliant, really. I think it's taken us a bit of time to get used to it, but I think now we're slowly, slowly getting there, and I think the best is yet to come from everyone.”
With fellow Academy graduates James Ward-Prowse and Theo Walcott departing this summer, Smallbone is ready to take on the mantle of inspiring the next generation.
“I think it's a big responsibility for me. I was in their shoes at one point, looking up into the first team and seeing an Academy player from the past is always a shining light you tend to look up to try and aim and strive towards, but I'm really looking forward to it."
