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Che Adams has set himself the challenge of helping Southampton win the Premier League.

The 22-year-old left Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee , believed to be around £15million, and signed a five-year deal with Saints.

The move completes a determined rise up football’s pyramid that suffered an early set-back when he was released by Coventry City as a youngster.

The striker, who scored 22 last term, has evolved into a good finisher and a powerful and quick attacker and has climbed back through the divisions with Sheffield United, Blues and now Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Saints.

“I am delighted it has all gone through, there was interest in January but it didn’t quite go through. But I am happy now it went through,” Adams told Southampton’s club television .

“You can see with their track history the amount of young players they are playing, the gaffer’s belief in young players and where the club is going to be and I wanted to be part of that.

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“We have had a quick chat, I really liked him [Hasenhüttl] and we will get on I think. In the next couple of days we will definitely speak at depth.

“I want to be part of that and build something together as a team.

“It’s a huge club obviously we want to win the league, obviously it’s a lot to ask for but you have to set yourself new targets to hit and with the squad I saw here last season there is no reason why we can’t.

“Even watching from aside when I was at Birmingham I liked what he did and wanted to be a part of it and when the opportunity come I couldn’t say no.

“It’s obviously a new step, different people I have not played with before or haven’t met but I can’t wait for the challenge.

“I am sure they will be alright, now it’s just about proving myself again and proving to my team-mates that I can play with them and make something happen.

“It’s going to be a long old season, I just can’t wait to get going with the game at Burnley.”

It’s been a ‘long old’ journey too, six years in the making via Ilkeston Town.

He joined Blues in the summer of 2016 and wasn’t always a first team regular - until Garry Monk found a way to tap into his potential.

“I am quite attack minded, creating chances, scoring goals just being a threat and a nuisance to defenders and with the players I am going to be playing with hopefully that will improve,” Adams continued.

“My confidence came on last season, it was a massive season for me last year and obviously Southampton picked up on that and added me into the squad.

“I started at non league when I was younger, 16-17 just working my way up the trade and then I got a breakthrough at Sheffield United at about 18.

“Stepping up to the Championship definitely improved my game a lot because the Championship is a very hard league. There are a lot of teams, everyone wants one thing - and that’s promotion.

“I went through that stage and I found it difficult at times but I think I have really developed and learned a lot.”

Adams leaves Blues having played 123 times and scored 38 goals.

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