Will Smallbone has shared a heartfelt goodbye message to Southampton after bringing an end to his 18-year association with the club.
The 26-year-old midfielder is now searching for a new challenge as a free agent after Southampton decided not to renew his contract. Smallbone rose through the club’s academy system after joining as an eight-year-old and eventually became part of the first-team squad.
After a successful loan spell at Stoke City during the 2022/23 season, he returned to help Southampton secure promotion in 2023/24. He later featured 20 times during their difficult Premier League campaign in 2024/25.
Smallbone also reunited with former manager Alex Neil during a loan move to Millwall last season, but injuries disrupted his progress. A hamstring problem suffered against Stoke in October kept him sidelined for several months, and another setback delayed his return until the final weeks of the campaign.
Following confirmation of his Southampton exit last week, Smallbone took to social media to reflect on his journey.
He said that after 18 years with the club, he was ready for his next chapter and felt proud to have fulfilled his childhood dream of representing his boyhood team.
He thanked the academy staff, coaches, supporters, and teammates who played a role in his career, adding that Southampton would always have a special place in his heart and that he wished the club continued success in the future.
