Southampton have confirmed the signing of young striker Lewis Bailey, who has joined the club’s academy from Stoke City after putting pen to paper on his first professional contract.
The 17-year-old forward makes the move to the south coast following a promising spell with the Potters, where he joined their academy in 2024 and quickly made an impact. Bailey will begin his Southampton career with the club’s under-18 side, coached by Andrew Surman, who currently sit seventh in their league campaign.
During his time at Stoke, Bailey established himself as a reliable goalscorer at under-18 level, consistently impressing with his performances in front of goal. His progress was rewarded with opportunities at a higher level, as he went on to make his debut for Stoke’s under-21s and featured regularly in Premier League 2. So far this season, he has made three appearances in the competition, gaining valuable experience against older opposition.
Speaking after completing his move, Bailey expressed his excitement about joining Saints and spoke positively about his early impressions of the club. He highlighted the welcoming environment and strong infrastructure at Southampton, adding that he believes the academy and coaching setup will provide him with the ideal platform to continue his development and reach his full potential.
Southampton’s director of group talent strategy, Andy Goldie, also welcomed the signing, explaining that Bailey fits a player profile the club has been eager to strengthen within its academy pathway. Goldie praised the young striker’s physical presence and athletic qualities, noting that these attributes allow him to influence matches both in attack and when working without the ball. He also pointed to Bailey’s rapid development over the last two years and expressed optimism about further enhancing his progress as he continues his journey within the Saints academy system.
