Saints have signed former Arsenal goalkeeper Stuart Taylor on a one-year contract.

The 34-year-old stopper comes in as cover for Fraser Forster and Alex McCarthy for the rest of this season having been without a club since being released by Leeds more than a year ago.

Taylor won Premier League titles with Arsenal and Manchester City during an 18-year career where he has generally been seen as back-up, making less than 100 first team appearances in total in spells with 11 different clubs.

Forster and McCarthy remain very the frontline keepers at St Mary’s despite Taylor’s arrival, but Saints felt they needed further cover.

Young keeper Harry Lewis is highly rated by the club, but with the aim being he plays regularly for the under-23s in their regular Monday night fixtures, it would leave him unable to be the required third choice keeper for the first team’s many Sunday games.

Executive Director of Football Les Reed said: “We’re pleased to welcome Stuart to Southampton Football Club.

“Harry Lewis has now joined the first-team training group to continue his development, while Paulo is gaining valuable first-team game time out on loan in Spain.

“With Kelvin retiring earlier this summer, and with so many games this season, Stuart’s arrival will provide us with added depth.

“With Stuart joining and Kelvin continuing to contribute to the squad and young player development through his experience in his new role means our goalkeeping department is in extremely good shape.”

On joining the club, Taylor said: “It’s fantastic to be here. I was in contact with Dave Watson and he’s a fantastic goalkeeping coach. When I got a call from him asking to come down, I was over the moon.

“I know a couple of the lads who are already here, so it helps to settle in and I’m looking forward to getting on with it and enjoying it.”