outhampton have announced academy graduates Harrison Reed and Jake Hesketh have signed new long-term deals with the club. Midfielder Reeds, 21, has made 25 senior appearances for the Saints, including four this season, and has penned a four-and-a-half-year contract – tying him to St Mary’s until 2021. Reed made his first-team breakthrough during the 2013/14 season and has featured in every EFL Cup game for Claude Puel’s side this term, helping Southampton to the semi-finals.

The youngster said of his new deal: “Obviously I am absolutely over the moon to commit my future to this club. It’s what I’ve been working towards for the last three to four years, so I am really pleased. “It’s been full of a lot of ups and downs, but obviously I am absolutely delighted to be signing at this club. I am just looking to push on from here. “I know this is the right place for me, you see it time after time that young players get the opportunities here. They progress on the pitch and get better as players and that’s what I want to do."

Executive Director of Football Les Reed added: “We’re delighted that Harrison has agreed to extend his commitment to Southampton Football Club. “Since making his debut during the 2013/14 season, Harrison has shown his qualities on the first-team stage whenever presented with an opportunity, none more so than in the EFL Cup this season. “Having now established himself in the first-team squad, we’re confident that Harrison’s continued development will see him become a very important player for the football club.”

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Hesketh has also penned a four-and-a-half-year deal. The midfielder, who scored in Saints' 2-0 EFL Cup win against Crystal Palace at the start of the season, is currently working his way back from an injury he suffered in October. "It's a really good feeling," said Hesketh. "With a new manager coming in going into the last year of my contract I knew I had to hit the ground running to do my best to impress him. "I got a couple of opportunities and this is a nice reward for it, so it's something I'm really happy about. "I don't think there was any doubt in my mind that this is the place to be for young players."