This is still considered a significant transfer error on Southampton’s behalf.
Southampton will try to avoid being the Championship’s nearly-men this season, after failing to win the playoff lottery and falling short of promotion back to the Premier League.
Russell Martin’s side is hobbling into the playoffs if their setback to Stoke City last weekend is any indication, allowing Steven Schumacher’s side to win 1-0 and secure their second-tier status with only three weak shots on target all game.
The squad will be more motivated to succeed when they travel to Leeds United on the final exciting day of the regular season, knowing that the Whites might possibly be their playoff final opponents at Wembley after the match at Elland Road.
If they do return to the top tier at the first opportunity, the Saints will not want to spend money irresponsibly, as they have done in the past, such as with one former £8 million signing who is now largely forgotten at St Mary’s.
🗣 "We'll be raring to go for the play-offs."
✊ @AdamArma9 pic.twitter.com/tm5ELcGxVU
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 29, 2024
Jordy Clasie’s transfer to Southampton
Jordy Clasie’s move to the Saints in 2015 would have been viewed as a coup, given the ex-Feyenoord midfielder’s importance to his Eredivisie employers prior to moving to England, and Southampton executive director Les Reed stating that the Dutchman was “one of the most highly-sought after midfielders in Europe”.
Clasie made 189 games for De Kuip before moving to the then-Premier League club, scoring nine goals and assisting 26 times as a consistent and dependable holding midfielder.
CONFIRMED: #SaintsFC complete the signing of @Clasie_Official on a five-year deal from @Feyenoord.https://t.co/ewewNAonQS
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 15, 2015
Signing on the signing line at Southampton on a lucrative five-year contract, this would not be the only noteworthy transfer error sanctioned by Ronald Koeman and his team during that transfer window, with Juanmi arriving alongside Clasie.
Joining the Saints for a hefty £5 million on top of Clasie’s £8 million price tag, the Spanish attacker failed to score in 19 unmemorable outings before departing after just one terrible season.
After this brief stint, Juanmi was no longer a problem for the South Coast club, but Clasie would remain on the Southampton roster for considerably longer as an even worse failure.
Clasie’s time at Southampton
The former Feyenoord player would make only 49 appearances for Southampton over two full seasons, failing to get into the starting eleven before being loaned out to Club Brugge and then back to Feyenoord for two seasons in a row.
Clasie was only given 30 minutes on his debut for Southampton, having had to wait until October for his first taste of action due to injury woes. His lack of minutes during his forgettable time with the Saints was arguably aided by stars such as Victor Wanyama and James Ward-Prowse excelling in the middle of the park while he was still learning his trade.
Clasie did produce poor figures in his new locale when compared to his achievements in his home Netherlands to excuse his lack of consistent game time, scoring two goals and assisting once.
Describing his Saints ordeal as “horrible” when opening up while on loan in Belgium, Southampton were left cursing this deal even more when you consider how high the Dutch flop’s excessive wage was at St. Mary’s, which was two times higher than Kyle Walker-Peters’ current salary.
Jordy Clasie’s wage at Southampton
When Clasie walked through the door over ten years ago, Southampton, an established Premier League club, wasn’t exactly careful when it came to paying hefty salaries to their stars.
During the 2016/17 season, Southampton’s best earner, Manolo Gabbiadini, earned an eye-watering £80,000 a week despite leaving the Saints after only 60 games.
Clasie’s high £40k-per-week pay would not place him among the top five highest earners at the Saints, but it’s incredible to think that the one-time Saints dud once made just £25k-per-week less than his own compatriot, Liverpool colossus Virgil Van Dijk.
Van Dijk now earns a stunning £220k per week playing for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, whereas Clasie has an unsuccessful career in the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar, earning only £18.7k.
Clasie’s salary at Southampton would be twice that of current Saints star Walker-Peters’ £20k-per-week wage, despite the fact that the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man has nearly surpassed the Dutchman’s appearances for the Saints this season, with 43 matches played.
Walker-Peters will be critical to Martin’s side’s playoff hopes, as he is eager to return to the Premier League with his South Coast club, where he has previously excelled.
That is sensational. 🔥
Kyle Walker-Peters grabs his first goal of the season in some style as Southampton stun Manchester City! 😇 pic.twitter.com/fqHJ0Qv3Dk
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 22, 2022
Furthermore, Clasie’s wage saw him earn £10k per week more than Che Adams, despite the fact that the Saints striker continued to fire in goal after goal for Martin’s promotion-chasing side, bringing his season tally to 17 for the campaign.
When all the numbers are added up, Clasie would have cost Southampton an eye-watering £12.1 million in his original transfer fee and wage costs, making him a huge disappointment.
With Martin at the helm, Southampton will hope to return to the top division after the playoff drama is finished, with no repeat mistakes like Clasie’s.
