Gavin Bazunu has revealed that his decision to join Stoke City on loan was driven by a desire for a fresh start away from Southampton.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper has moved to the bet365 Stadium for the remainder of the season, with the agreement including an option to buy that is reportedly valued at £8 million.
Bazunu made an immediate impact on his debut, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against QPR, where he made two saves against Stoke’s play-off rivals.
That result left Stoke seventh in the Championship, just two points outside the play-off places and eight ahead of Southampton.
Speaking in his first interview since arriving, Bazunu explained that the opportunity to join a side pushing for the play-offs was a major factor in his decision.
“A fresh start is what I was looking for,” he said. “I wanted to be somewhere that is fighting to get into the play-offs.”
Bazunu added that positive discussions with manager Steven Schumacher and goalkeeping coach Darren Behcet played a key role in convincing him to make the move, with a clear plan in place to help him develop further.
“All of those things will be worked on in training, and hopefully I can show that improvement on match days,” he added.
The Ireland international also praised the welcome he has received from his new teammates and spoke of his excitement at joining a squad competing for something meaningful.
“The lads couldn’t have been more welcoming,” Bazunu said. “It’s exciting to be part of a group that’s fighting for something big. The Championship is all about momentum — when you start winning games, you can quickly climb the table.”
Bazunu’s Southampton contract expires next summer, and he has made 19 appearances this season, conceding 28 goals and keeping three clean sheets.
His loan move followed the arrival of Israel international Daniel Peretz, who joined Saints on loan from Bayern Munich.
A former Manchester City academy graduate, Bazunu joined Southampton in a £12 million deal in July 2022 and went on to make 97 appearances for the club, though his time on the south coast proved challenging.
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