FORMER Cherries loanee and transfer target Jack Stephens has signed a new contract with Southampton.

The 29-year-old has penned a deal until the summer of 2025.

Stephens, who arrived at Saints in 2011, has made 151 appearances for the club.

He fell out of favour and was loaned to Cherries last summer, eventually forcing his way into the side and playing a key role in the club’s run to avoiding relegation.

After his 17 appearances for Cherries, the club’s technical director Richard Hughes told BBC Radio Solent Stephens was “easily one of the best signings that we made, including both windows” last season.

Hughes added: “It is a conversation most definitely we would like to have. Of course, he goes back to his parent club. There is no option (to buy) for us, so Southampton are the masters of what will happen there.

“Jack will have his opinion and decide when the right time is to talk to Southampton as well. We will wait for those conversations to take place.

“If it’s the right thing for all three parties, then it’s fair to say we would love to have him back here next season.”

While Stephens helped Cherries stay up, his parent club Southampton were relegated.

The centre-back featured regularly during pre-season under new boss Russell Martin and is now set to stay at St Mary’s.

Upon signing the contract, Stephens said: "I think over the summer there was a lot of uncertainty over what was going on.

“But I had some good conversations with the manager and he made it clear that he wanted me to stay and I've loved working with him these first few weeks and I'm really confident that we're going to have a good season, so it was an easy decision for me to sign the contract and I'm really happy.”

Saints’ director of football Jason Wilcox added: “His leadership makes him a key part of our rebuilding project and Jack will play a telling contribution both this season and beyond.”