Southampton are in talks to sign Elche defender David Affengruber for around €10 million. The club is pushing to complete the deal for the Austrian international before Tuesday night's transfer deadline citing Spanish outlet Todo Alicante.
This move comes as a direct response to Aston Villa's impending signing of Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Replacing an England international of Harwood-Bellis's quality is a tough task, but bringing in a top-level defender for potentially half the fee received is seen as smart business. Southampton can reinvest the funds from that sale to finance this late-window move.
David Affengruber is a 24-year-old Austrian defender who has been a key player for Elche in La Liga. He scored his first top-flight goal last season during their successful survival campaign. Affengruber began his senior career with FC Liefering in 2019 before making his Austrian Bundesliga debut for Red Bull Salzburg in 2021. A move to Sturm Graz followed, where he helped the club win a domestic league and cup double in the 2023/24 season. He joined Elche in 2024 and earned his senior Austria debut this year, leading to his selection for the 2026 World Cup squad.
Why Southampton need a defender now
The urgent need stems from the imminent departure of Taylor Harwood-Bellis to Aston Villa. While Southampton have plenty of squad depth, losing a player of that calibre creates a significant gap at the back. The club sits 18th in the Championship with 2 points from 3 games, having scored 9 goals but also conceded 4. Securing a reliable defender is important for shoring up the defence as they look to mount another promotion challenge. They are currently seven points behind league leaders Charlton.
What the deal means for the squad
Adding Affengruber would provide immediate reinforcement to a defensive unit that will be without Caspar Jander, who is currently sidelined. The Austrian's experience in a top European league and international football would be a valuable addition. Southampton's attention will quickly turn to their next Championship fixture, an away match against 8th-placed Birmingham City on Tuesday. Fans can track the team's progress on our standings page and view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
The race against the deadline
With less than two days remaining in the transfer window, negotiations between Southampton and Elche are ongoing. Todo Alicante reported that "Southampton are looking to sign Elche defender David Affengruber, who is valued at around €12m." The final fee is expected to be close to €10 million. Completing this signing would allow manager and staff to focus fully on the Birmingham game and the rest of the season with a settled squad. Supporters can check the latest team news, including injury updates, on our dedicated injuries page.
