Official: Southampton sign Caulker on loan

The QPR defender will ply his trade on the south coast for the 2015-16 season after Saints agreed a "substantial" fee, and the 23-year-old is determined to prove his quality

Southampton have announced the season-long loan signing of defender Steven Caulker, who moves to St Mary's Stadium from recently relegated QPR.

The former Tottenham centre-back made 36 Premier League appearances last term as the R's failed to escape the drop, which represented a second successive relegation for Caulker who had also suffered the same fate with Cardiff City a year earlier.

"The 23-year-old defender has penned a season-long loan deal at St Mary's, after Rangers accepted a substantial undisclosed loan fee for his services," read a statement on QPR's official website.

Caulker becomes Southampton's sixth signing of a busy summer window, joining Juanmi, Cedric Soares, Cuco Martina, Jordy Clasie and Maarten Stekelenburg, who similarly joined on loan from Championship club Fulham.

Ronald Koeman's need for a new centre-back was heightened after Toby Alderweireld snubbed a permanent move to the south coast in favour of Tottenham, with Caulker now expected to compete with Maya Yoshida for a starting role alongside skipper Jose Fonte.

"I’m very pleased and very excited. This club has done fantastically well, especially over the last two years. To now join this club and to be a part of it for this year is something I’ve proud of," Caulker told Southampton's official website.

"As soon as I got the phone call to say a fee was agreed with Southampton, I was delighted to get the opportunity to come and play under a great manager.

"This club is an ambitious one, so to be part of this is a great opportunity – it’s a chance for me to prove myself. I’m very excited for the season ahead."