Highly-rated former Portsmouth prospect and Republic of Ireland youth international joins Southampton
The 17-year-old has played international football for England and the Republic of Ireland at youth level
A highly-regarded former Pompey Academy player has been snapped up by Southampton.
Xander Grieves left Fratton Park in June 2024, when Wolves paid an undisclosed fee to capture the talented goalkeeper.
As a 14-year-old, the youngster from Dorking had represented the Blues’ Under-18s, having signed early scholarship forms, while also featured for England Under-15s.
Now, two years later he has moved onto Southampton, joining Pompey’s Championship rivals on a two-year deal.
Aged 17 and having switched international allegiances to the Republic of Ireland, with two caps for their Under-17s, the St Mary’s club have high hopes for Grieves.
And earlier this month he travelled with the first-team squad to Birmingham, taking part in the pre-match warm-ups alongside fellow keepers Daniel Peretz and George Long.
‘He has demonstrated a high level of professionalism and hunger’
Southampton’s director of group talent strategy Andy Goldie told the official website: ‘After impressing on trial last season, Xander joins the Academy to provide additional competition to an already strong goalkeeping pathway.
‘He has demonstrated a high level of professionalism and hunger to not only push the other goalkeepers for game time, but also his own development and has been rewarded with some exposure to the First Team environment in recent weeks.’
Grieves was recruited by Pompey from Dorking Wanderers in May 2022.
Such was his rapid progress, he signed early scholarship forms for the Blues in October 2023 and, in March 2024, made his debut for the Academy’s under-18s against Sutton United.
At the time, lead professional development phase coach Sam Hudson told Pompey’s official website: ‘We had a really young team - I’m not sure if we’ve had a 14-year-old starting between the sticks at this level before and it’s credit to the goalkeeping department that he was ready for that.
‘Xander deserved it because of his performances in training and he’s highly thought of by the club.
‘We felt the opportunity was right to give him his first taste with us and the only disappointing thing is that he didn’t keep a clean sheet because he couldn’t do much about the one we conceded.’
England Under-15 recognition at Portsmouth
Grieves would total three under-18s outings in 2023-24, while in May 2024 earned England Under-15s recognition.
However, as a 15-year-old he moved to Wolves at the season’s end - in the same summer fellow Academy prospect CJ Afumuzor was sold to Newcastle.
Grieves went on to have loan spells with Telford United and Rugby Town last season, while twice featured for the Republic of Ireland Under-17s, having switched from England Under-16s.