Saints defender joins Accrington Stanley on season-long loan

SAINTS have confirmed that under-21s defender Zach Awe has joined Accrington Stanley on a season-long loan.

The 20 year old joined Saints in August 2023 from Arsenal's academy, where he had previously spent over 10 years in their youth ranks.

The centre-back went on to make 21 appearances for the under-21s in the 2023/24 campaign, and will now link up with the League Two side in his first senior loan.

A club statement added: "The club wishes Zach all the best and looks forward to monitoring his progress."

Youngster Awe signed a three-year professional deal when he arrived at Staplewood and remains under contract until June 2026.

Standing at six-foot five-inches tall, Awe is a confident and composed defender but continues to work on his distribution out the back.

He made 37 appearances for Arsenal's under-21s and was named on Mikel Arteta's bench for a Premier League tie at Wolves in February 2022.

Awe turned down a new contract at the Gunners in favour of finding a new club, before eventually signing on at Saints.

Speaking to the Daily Echo last year, Awe said: "I felt like I needed a challenge and a different experience to my footballing career. I had been at Arsenal my whole life.

"I was trying to get out of my comfort zone and get to somewhere where I knew that there would be a pathway for me to break through."