On the closing day of this summer’s transfer window, Southampton appeared to have secured a standout signing.
Southampton made headlines by securing the signing of striker Ross Stewart from Championship rivals Sunderland. The transfer, amounting to £8 million, brought Stewart to the club following a successful stint at The Stadium of Light.
However, Stewart’s transition to Southampton was marred by a recurrence of the injury that sidelined him for the latter part of the previous season with Sunderland.
Despite the anticipation surrounding his arrival, Stewart’s debut for Russell Martin’s team was delayed until November. Unfortunately, his return to action was short-lived as he suffered another injury shortly after.
In a significant blow to Southampton, it was confirmed in January that Stewart would miss the remainder of the season due to this setback. This setback threatens to have significant consequences for Southampton, with the investment in Stewart’s talent potentially going unfulfilled due to persistent injury woes.
Evaluation of Ross Stewart’s Salary
As per Salary Sport, Stewart’s current weekly salary at St Mary’s stands at £28,000, totaling £1.456 million annually. Meanwhile, according to WhoScored, the striker has only logged 17 minutes of playing time for Southampton this season, spread across two appearances.
Consequently, since joining the Saints, Stewart has earned an astonishing £728,000 for each appearance made this season. Furthermore, this translates to £85,647 per minute played during the current campaign.
of Southampton during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Southampton FC at John Smith’s Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Southampton will likely seek Ross Stewart’s prompt return.
Throughout this season, Martin’s team has managed reasonably well without players like Stewart, primarily due to the outstanding performances of individuals such as Adam Armstrong, who is contending for the Golden Boot.
However, despite their resilience, Southampton finds themselves in fourth place in the Championship table, at risk of falling behind in the race for automatic promotion. Stewart’s presence throughout the campaign could have potentially altered this situation, given his proven goal-scoring ability at this level, as demonstrated during his time with Sunderland.
Had Stewart replicated this form for Southampton, they might have been even closer to securing a top-two position. Therefore, his return will significantly bolster Southampton’s prospects on the field for the next season.
Moreover, it presents an opportunity for the club to capitalize on their considerable investment in Stewart. With two years remaining on Stewart’s contract with Southampton, there is still ample time for him to make an impact and justify the club’s expenditure.