In the summer, Armel Bella-Kotchap moved from VfL Bochum to the Premier League for a sum in the double-digit millions. There, the defender must now be patient.

Southampton FC paid eleven million euros to sign Armel Bella-Kotchap in the summer – a record fee for VfL Bochum. But even though the defender often played for his new employers during the summer preparation, he had to be content with a place on the bench on the first matchday in the 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. This did not change at the break, when coach Ralph Hasenhüttl brought in another centre-back, Jack Stephens.

Of course, for a 20-year-old for whom the country, league and club are still unknown territory, there is no reason to panic after just one game. Bella-Kotchap will need patience. That is also the opinion of his coach, who already had many words of praise for the newcomer when the transfer was announced. “Definitely,” he now told the Daily Echo. “Especially as we have six players in his position, it’s not easy.”

But the U21 international’s time will come. Perhaps as early as Saturday’s 4pm home opener against Leeds United? “If you do a good job during the week, there’s always a chance to get in. Even more so if you were not successful the weekend before (…). The players have to take the chance when they get one. That way they can put pressure on me.”

In any case, Hasenhüttl does not see the fact that Bella-Kotchap mostly played in a back four at VfL Bochum and the so-called “Saints” operate with three centre-backs as a problem for the new man. “It’s harder to adapt when you’ve always played in a five-man backline. Then when you change to a back four, the distances are bigger, you have to push more and I think that’s harder. “