Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce that Serbia international Filip Djuričić has joined on loan until the end of the season.

The 23 year-old signs from Portuguese side Benfica after ending a loan spell at German side Mainz 05 to make a deadline-day move to St Mary’s.

The attacking midfielder began his football in the youth systems of Radnički Obrenovac and Red Star Belgrade, before spending a year in Greece with Olympiacos. Djuričić returned to Serbia after just one season in Greece, returning hometown club Obrenovac, where he made his professional debut, before earning a move to SC Heerenveen in Holland.

It was with the Dutch side that he secured his first international call-ups, playing alongside current Saints star Dušan Tadić for Serbia.

Djuričić made his debut for his country in a friendly against Cyprus in 2012, scoring his first international goal later that year in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Wales.

He racked up 111 appearances during his time in Holland, scoring 26 goals, before sealing a move to Portugal with Benfica, signing a five-year contract.

The playmaker featured 22 times in his first season in Lisbon, helping the club win the Primeira Liga and two domestic cup competitions in the 2013/14 campaign.

Ahead of the current season, Djuričić moved to Bundesliga outfit Mainz 05 on loan, and made 12 appearances in all competitions before deciding to switch Germany for England and link up with Ronald Koeman’s side on the south coast.



