---
title: "Saints fans fume over Yan Valery’s deadline day exit"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2021/02/02/saints-fans-fume-over-yan-valery-loan-exit-birmingham/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jrushworth"
section: "News"
published: "2021-02-02T11:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-02T11:30:00Z"
---

# Saints fans fume over Yan Valery’s deadline day exit

A number of Southampton fans have been bemoaning the [Saints’ decision](https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2021-02-01/yan-valery-southampton-birmingham-city-loan-announcement) to allow [Yan Valery](https://readsouthampton.com/2021/02/01/yan-valery-could-join-birmingham-on-one-condition/) to go on loan to Birmingham City for the rest of the season.

The Saints have been enduring something of a crisis in the full-back areas in recent weeks, with Kyle Walker-Peters [ruled out injured](https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-kyle-walker-peters-injury-4952162) and Jake Vokins having been [allowed to join Sunderland on loan](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55848924). Midfielder James Ward-Prowse was preferred to Valery at right-back against Aston Villa and Moussa Djenepo was brought off the bench instead of him ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3429700)).

The Frenchman was well down the pecking order and does not seem to be viewed as a player who could have made an impact for Southampton this season. That resulted in [deadline day rumours](https://twitter.com/TomLeachHL/status/1356200410638389250) of a possible move to Birmingham, although it [was reported](https://twitter.com/TomLeachHL/status/1356200410638389250) that it would not happen unless the Saints brought in a replacement.

Southampton never managed to bring in another full-back, with [a late effort to sign Neco Williams](https://www.skysports.com/transfer-centre) turned down by Liverpool. In the end, the [Saints confirmed Valery’s loan departure](https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2021-02-01/yan-valery-southampton-birmingham-city-loan-announcement) at [11:15pm on deadline day](https://twitter.com/SouthamptonFC/status/1356380574886338567) despite the lack of a new defender being brought into the club. That leaves them with just [one natural full-back currently available](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-southampton/kadernachposition/verein/180) in their squad.

### **Southampton fans fume over Yan Valery’s loan departure**

Many Southampton fans were left annoyed that, instead of adding a defender on deadline day, they allowed one to leave the club. Here is a flavour of the reaction from angry Saints supporters on Twitter over Valery’s loan exit:

> I naively expected [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) to have more options at full back by the end of the day, rather than fewer. That said, if Hasenhüttl would rather play a central midfielder or a winger at right back, it probably makes sense for him to get games elsewhere… [https://t.co/gUnkSKRuZc](https://t.co/gUnkSKRuZc)
>
> — Lucy Highnett (@lucyhighnett) [February 1, 2021](https://twitter.com/lucyhighnett/status/1356381286655516674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/FraserSmedley/status/1356381172805361666?s=19

https://twitter.com/DAVIDCOOK8929/status/1356380802330849282?s=19

https://twitter.com/sammysfcb/status/1356381771403841538?s=19

> Great work saints! Get rid of our backup…
>
> — Callum Shirley (@ShirleyCallum) [February 1, 2021](https://twitter.com/ShirleyCallum/status/1356380812367814656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Hope he goes and does well but I just can’t see the logic of letting him go when we’re already so short in numbers at full-back. [#SaintsFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaintsFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/ux6BiU2yYE](https://t.co/ux6BiU2yYE)
>
> — Dan Hargraves (@DanJHargraves) [February 1, 2021](https://twitter.com/DanJHargraves/status/1356382088665174027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> How can you loan out 2 players in a week that you were forced into using for a league game recently, and not get any replacements 🤯 [https://t.co/aBvvlPgEAC](https://t.co/aBvvlPgEAC)
>
> — Matt (@mrlknightt) [February 1, 2021](https://twitter.com/mrlknightt/status/1356382388222373890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)