Where are they now? Southampton’s young guns; featuring Harlee Dean

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Southampton have a great reputation for producing talented young footballers. So let’s catch up with those who left the club in recent years.

Southampton signed 19-year-old Harlee Dean from Dagenham and Redbridge back in 2010. The centre-back did not play a single senior game before moving to Brentford on a free transfer two years later. Dean, now captain of Dean Smith’s side, has racked up over 200 appearances for the London side.

Dean was recently joined in the Championship by former Saints academy product Gboly Ariyibi. The winger has played for Leeds United and Chesterfield following his release from Southampton in 2013. His impressive form for the Spireites in recent months earned him a move to Nottm Forrest last month.

Sam Hoskins and Ben Reeves were both let go by Southampton in the same summer as Ariyibi, and now play their football in League One.

Hoskins signed for Yeovil Town after being handed three substitute appearances during his time at St Mary’s. The forward plays for League One side Northampton Town, whom he helped cruise to the League Two title last season.

Reeves has been turning heads with his performances for MK Dons in recent months. The midfielder, 25, has made over 100 appearances for the Dons, scoring 28 goals in the process.

Centre-back Ryan Tafazolli has worked his way back up the leagues following his departure from the Saints in 2011. The towering defender had spells with Concord Rangers, Cambridge City and Mansfield Town before earning a move to League One play-off contenders Peterborough in the summer. Tafazolli’s performances for the Posh have already led to talk of interest from the Championship.

Olly Lancashire and Jordan Turnbull are two ex-Southampton young guns to be fighting it out at the bottom of League One. Lancashire is currently with Shrewsbury Town, but hasn’t featured since their run of three consecutive defeats a few months ago.

Turnbull is in serious danger of dropping into League Two with cash-strapped Coventry City. The centre-back, who joined the Sky Blues in the summer, did play his part in helping the club reach the EFL Trophy final at Wembley.

If Turnbull does go down to League Two, he might be joining fellow Saints academy graduates Dominic Gape and Lloyd James.

Gape made his loan switch to Wycombe Wanderers permanent in the January transfer window, bringing an end to his five-year professional career with Southampton.

James has only missed one league game for Exeter City all season. The central midfielder is an integral part of Paul Tisdale’s side’s push for a play-off place.

Oscar Gobern, Joseph Mills and Cody Cropper are no longer playing their football in England.

Gobern moved to Scottish Premiership side Ross County in January, following stints at Huddersfield, Chesterfield, Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers and Mansfield Town. He made his debut for County in their 1-0 SFA Cup defeat to Aberdeen.

Mills, 27, signed for Australian side Perth Glory after his contract ran out at Oldham Athletic in the summer. The left-back is a regular in the Glory’s starting-eleven, who sit 5^th in the A-League table.

Southampton signed 19-year-old goalkeeper Cody Cropper from Ipswich Town back in 2012. The American-born stopper failed to break into the Saints first-team, and subsequently left for MK Dons three years later. Cropper returned to the MLS with New England Revolution in the summer, and he is currently gearing up for their season opener against Colorado next month.