Yan Valery

Audi


The right-back photographed with a young fan outside Southampton's training ground after his practice session.

Born in Champigny-sur-Marne, France, he spent his youth career in a few French clubs that included AS Outre-Mer du Bois l'Abbé, Champigny FC 94, Stade Rennais before making his big move to England to join Southampton's football academy. After a couple of years at the academy the defender was handed his debut by Mark Hughes on 27 November 2018 in a Carabao Cup match against Leicester City, four days later he would make his Premier League debut playing the entire 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United. The Frenchman would score his first and second goal for The Saints' within the space of a week, his first was special, a right-footed "rocket" from outside the box against Manchester United, while his second came in a 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur. In his first year as a professional footballer the Frenchman made 17 appearances for Southampton in the 2018/19 Premier League season as The Saints endured a long and difficulty season, finishing 16th in the table to successfully avoid relegation. Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhüttl has heaped praised on the youngster, a player who he believes embodies the philosophy of Southampton FC, a brave, ambitious, forward thinking footballer who believes in himself and is willing to work on his deficits to get better. The defender represented France at both under-17 and under-18 level but decided to switch allegiance to play for the Tunisia's national football team in 2019.