Northampton Town have signed the Southampton midfielder Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh on a three-year deal, for a fee that has not been disclosed.
The 21-year-old joined Southampton from Cork City in January 2024 and made two appearances off the bench for the Saints. He spent the rest of that season on loan at Accrington Stanley, scoring three goals in 13 appearances, and made his only senior Southampton appearance last season in their FA Cup win over Leicester.
Northampton manager Chris Hogg said O'Brien-Whitmarsh would add craft and versatility to his midfield. "He is a highly technical player," Hogg told the club website. "He can play either as a six or a 10 in midfield and he will add quality and technical ability to the group of central midfielders we have. He plays centrally, he plays on the front foot, always looking to play forward and he can create. He has a rhythm to his play and he is exciting to watch."
The move is Hogg's latest signing since he replaced the sacked Kevin Nolan in May, as he rebuilds a Northampton squad relegated from League One after winning just nine games all season. The Cobblers have added the striker Harvey Saunders and the Leicester loanee Logan Briggs since the appointment, among several summer arrivals.