The 23-year-old Gabon international has penned a five-year contract with Saints, who are 4/7 to beat Swansea City on Saturday and 11/10 to keep a clean sheet in the St Mary’s encounter.

Lemina, who had also been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham, Watford and Stoke City, joined Juventus in 2015 from Marseille after starting his career with Lorient.

Lemina won both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia twice during his time with Juve and featured in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid two months ago.

He is Southampton’s second summer signing following the arrival of central defender Jan Bednarek from Lech Poznan for £5million.

Southampton’s vice chairman of football Les Reed said: “Mario is an outstanding talent who has already achieved a great deal in his career, winning a number of titles and gaining experience of playing on some of the biggest stages in world football.

“Investing in a player of Mario’s quality and buying from a club like Juventus is a significant statement of intent from the club, and this is a purchase that has set another club-record fee.”

Meanwhile, Lemina said: “I am really happy to have signed for Southampton. I think that it was the project that attracted me the most and the one my family was really behind.”

Southampton are 8/15 to finish in the top half of the Premier League table this season while Shane Long is 10/1 to be their top scorer in 2017/18.

From: Internet.