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Southampton have completed the signing of Burnley defender Wayne Thomas in a ?million deal.
The 28-year-old centre-half has signed a three-year contract after passing a medical at St Mary's.
Saints manager George Burley said: "Wayne is an experienced defender who has played a lot of games for Stoke and Burnley over the last five or six years and he is a player I have admired for a long time.
"I tried to get him at Derby but just missed out because at the time we couldn't buy anyone.
"I was aware Wayne wanted a new challenge and I'm delighted to have got him. We had to pay a lot of money but letting Pele join West Brom enabled us to do that.
"We were looking for a leader and an organiser with experience in this league and he has that sort of toughness. There are not many in that category."
The Clarets have moved swiftly to fill the void left by Thomas' departure by signing Watford defender Clarke Carlisle for a fee of ?50,000.
The 27-year-old has penned a three-year deal at Turf Moor and Hornets boss Adrian Boothroyd said: "It is a good piece of business for the club, as the fee we will get is double what we paid for him two years ago, and we are well covered at centre-back.
"Clarke is a brilliant guy, and if his football ability matched his personality, he would be captain of England.
"But it is important for him to get the opportunity to play as many games as he can at his age, and I couldn't have guaranteed him that here."
The 28-year-old centre-half has signed a three-year contract after passing a medical at St Mary's.
Saints manager George Burley said: "Wayne is an experienced defender who has played a lot of games for Stoke and Burnley over the last five or six years and he is a player I have admired for a long time.
"I tried to get him at Derby but just missed out because at the time we couldn't buy anyone.
"I was aware Wayne wanted a new challenge and I'm delighted to have got him. We had to pay a lot of money but letting Pele join West Brom enabled us to do that.
"We were looking for a leader and an organiser with experience in this league and he has that sort of toughness. There are not many in that category."
The Clarets have moved swiftly to fill the void left by Thomas' departure by signing Watford defender Clarke Carlisle for a fee of ?50,000.
The 27-year-old has penned a three-year deal at Turf Moor and Hornets boss Adrian Boothroyd said: "It is a good piece of business for the club, as the fee we will get is double what we paid for him two years ago, and we are well covered at centre-back.
"Clarke is a brilliant guy, and if his football ability matched his personality, he would be captain of England.
"But it is important for him to get the opportunity to play as many games as he can at his age, and I couldn't have guaranteed him that here."
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Aug 17 2007, 10:11 AM
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