Southampton have announced they have signed Mouez Hassen on loan from Nice to provide back-up to first choice goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Hassen, 21, has joined the Saints on a five-month deal until the end of the season as Claude Puel reunites with a player he worked under as Nice manager last season.
The France Under-21 international has dropped completely out of favour at Nice this season with Yoan Cardinale now preferred between the sticks and Hassen is delighted to be making the move to the Premier League.
“I am really happy,” he told the club’s official website. “It’s a pleasure for me to come to England for the first time and I am really happy to get to know the Premier League. I am really looking forward to joining the team.”
Mouez Hassen: Of GKs to make 10+ apps in the 2015/16 Ligue 1 season, only 3 had worse save success than Hassen (61.4%) #ogcn #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/Dqk6bvIqrF
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 31, 2017
Southampton only signed Alex McCarthy as Forster’s understudy in the summer but the former Crystal Palace goalkeeper has spent most of the season injured.
36-year-old Stuart Taylor has spent most of the season on the bench but now has competition from Hassen. However, of goalkeepers to make more than 10 appearances in the 2015/16 Ligue 1 campaign, only three had worse save success rate than Hassen (61.4%).
For more stats on Mouez Hassen, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
