Southampton take up permanent Ryan Bertrand option

Southampton have turned Ryan Bertrand's loan from Chelsea into a rumoured £10m permanent deal on the stroke of the transfer deadline.

The 25-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at St Mary's Stadium after the Saints triggered an option-to-buy clause in his loan agreement from Chelsea.

He has slotted seamlessly into the left-back spot vacated by Luke Shaw's move to Manchester United, making 22 Premier League appearances this season.

Bertrand came through the academy at Stamford Bridge and played 57 times for the Blues, including in the 2011-12 Champions League final.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman will have to make do without Bertrand for his next three games, however, following his red card in the 1-0 home defeat by Swansea.