Southampton have clinched the signing of defender Florin Gardos from Steaua Bucharest.
The 25-year old Romanian centre-back has signed a four-year deal with the Saints for an undisclosed fee , becoming the south coast club's seventh signing of the summer.
The Romania international, who spent four years in Bucharest, was thrilled to finalise his move to St Mary's on the eve of the 2014/15 Premier League season.
"This is one of the happiest days of my life. It's the biggest step of my career so far," he told the club's official website.
"Coming to the Premier League is a very big occasion for me, and Southampton was a team that had a really good last season so this wasn't really a hard decision.
"I've had a very good first impression of the club. There's a very big difference between what I had back home and what is here.
"I've always said that coming to Premier League would be a dream come true, and luckily I've been able to achieve that dream now."
Gardos, who joined the same day as Shane Long did from Hull City, will wear the number five shirt for the Saints.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Romania defender Florin Gardos joins #SaintsFC until 2018 - http://t.co/UiVq5lAyap#SaintFlorinpic.twitter.com/nlNdQFd7qQ
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 14, 2014
