SOUTHAMPTON'S ARMEL BELLA-KOTCHAP JOINS HELLAS VERONA ON LOAN
Southampton centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap has sealed a move to Serie A, joining Hellas Verona on a season-long loan.
The agreement also contains an option for the Italian side to make the deal permanent next summer, giving the 23-year-old a potential route away from St Mary’s after a stop-start spell in England.
Bella-Kotchap arrived at Southampton in 2022 from Bundesliga outfit Bochum for a fee in the region of £8.6m. He impressed in his early months on the South Coast, showing composure on the ball and physical strength at the back, qualities that quickly caught the attention of Germany manager Hansi Flick. His rapid rise was rewarded with a debut against England in September 2022, followed by inclusion in Germany’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
However, injuries and inconsistency hampered his progress, and after Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League, opportunities became increasingly scarce. Since the end of his debut campaign, he has made only five further appearances for the Saints, struggling to regain a regular spot.
The switch to Verona now offers Bella-Kotchap the chance to rebuild momentum in one of Europe’s most tactical leagues, while Verona strengthen their defensive ranks ahead of a demanding Serie A season. For Southampton, the move represents both a chance for the defender to develop elsewhere and the possibility of recouping funds if Verona activate the purchase clause.
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