Why Southampton target Leo Scienza turned down Paris FC to join Saints as £8.6m transfer imminent

Why Southampton target Leo Scienza turned down Paris FC to join Saints as £8.6m transfer imminent.

After weeks of speculation, Will Still just lost his two most valuable Southampton assets when Tyler Dibling moved

to Everton and Mateus Fernandes joined West Ham.

In spite of those two high-profile departures, Southampton made several notable additions in the closing moments

of the transfer window, including the £12 million acquisition of Finn Azaz and the arrival of Tom Fellows from West

Brom.

Winger Leo Scienza has been a transfer target for the Saints throughout the summer, and now he is set to complete

his Southampton move after turning down a late offer in the French top flight.

Southampton to beat Paris FC to sign Leo Scienza for £8.6m fee

Still and the Saints’ recruitment team have been looking for attacking reinforcements before the window closes after

Dibling left for Everton.

Scienza was sought by Southampton earlier in the transfer window following his stellar season with FC Heidenheim

in the Bundesliga.

After such claims surfaced, it was revealed that Scienza needed to pay Southampton £8.6 million to sign the

Brazilian international, beating out rivals FC Koln and Borussia Monchengladbach.

As they attempted to defeat Southampton at the last minute, reporter Sacha Tavolieri revealed on deadline day

morning that Ligue 1 team Paris FC offered £8.6 million for Scienza and that the prospect of “living in Paris appealed

to him.”

The 26-year-old has now chosen to join Still’s team, demonstrating how quickly transfer fortunes can change on

deadline day.

Tavolieri gave an update on X: “Léo Scienza is at the airport in Stuttgart. going to Southampton FC!

The Brazilian thinks he can assist the Saints FC return to the Premier League as early as next season, even if Paris FC

has offered him €10M + €2M in bonuses.

“There was no complete agreement with Heidenheim.” In exchange for an agreement worth about €10 million, the

Saints are now paying the incentives.

The attraction of assisting Southampton in returning to the Premier League has turned out to be the decisive element

in Scienza’s football career.

Furthermore, the St. Mary’s supporters should be ecstatic about his impending arrival as he is already playing well,

having scored three goals in three games for Heidenheim this season.

Leo Scienza’s record proves Southampton have completed major coup

Despite Scienza’s inexperience in English football, the Saints supporters will be thrilled about his coming

given his goal-scoring record in the Bundesliga in recent seasons.

Scienza helped Heidenheim avoid relegation last season by scoring six goals and dishing out five assists.

He finished the season with a goal and an assist against Elversberg.

Statistic	2023/24	2024/25	2025/26
Games played	34	37	3
Goals	12	6	3
Assists	11	5	0

In response to Scienza’s Southampton connections, Heidenheim’s CEO stated that the winger would only join the

South Coast team in the event of a “very attractive” offer.

Heidenheim’s demands seem to have been met by Southampton’s £8.6 million investment; now, it is up to the

Brazilian international to defend the astronomical cost of his services this season.

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