Southampton's Record Signing Sofiane Boufal Offers Honest Assessment of His 1st Season in England

?Southampton forward Sofiane Boufal has admitted he has been frustrated with his first year in English football but remains confident that he will show an improvement next season. 

Having signed for Saints for a club record £16m from Lille last summer, the Moroccan has struggled to make an impact in Claude Puel’s side. 

He has scored just two goals in 26 appearances this season and has battled with a number of injuries, as his consistency in fitness has been just as erratic as his form on the pitch. 

With just two matches left to play in Southampton’s season, Boufal has admitted that though he has happy, he has struggled to adapt to life in England and needs to learn quickly if he is to be a success. 

He told the ?Daily Echo: “I am enjoying it here but I’ve been a little bit frustrated about my season because I haven’t done what I wanted to do.”

“I’ve had a lot of injuries and I’ve arrived here injured and I didn’t do pre-season. I knew the season would be difficult before I signed here, but I’m enjoying it.

“This is one season of adaptation and I need to learn quickly to help myself in the Premier League, so I can do a good season next year.”

Born in Paris to Moroccan parents, Boufal’s first season in England has not lived up this hefty price-tag.

Whilst the 23-year-old claims that he was prepared for a testing year at St Mary’s, he has explained that the difference between playing in Ligue 1 and the Premier League has also contributed to his inconsistency. 

“In the Premier League it’s more crazy and end-to-end,” he added. “In France it’s more tactical. It’s a big difference; here is quicker and more box-to-box and France it’s more tactical with more defenders who stay at the back. I’m enjoying Southampton and the Premier League is the best championship in the world and I am happy here in England.”