Southampton star to leave club after spygate scandal in a tough setback
Southampton is about to lose one of their key players after being kicked out of the Championship play-offs because of a spying scandal known as ‘spygate’. The Saints admitted they spied on three clubs during the 2025/26 season, including before their play-off semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough.
A Southampton staff member went to Middlesbrough’s training ground to film their session but was caught by coaches who reported it to the EFL. On Tuesday, an independent commission decided to remove Southampton from the play-offs and gave them a four-point penalty for next season. Southampton appealed right away, but the EFL confirmed the punishment on Wednesday evening.
Manager Tonda Eckert is also facing an FA charge after accepting responsibility and could get a long ban or be sacked by the club. Star winger Leo Scienza and midfielder Kuryu Matsuki have already shared their feelings, with Scienza saying he feels “disappointed, angry, and sad.”
The Daily Mail reported that some players might take legal action against the club because they were promised big bonuses if the team got promoted. Many players also took pay cuts last season after relegation, which would have been restored if they had won against Hull City at Wembley.
Since Southampton was removed, Middlesbrough has been put back in to face Hull in the final. With the possibility of legal issues, one Southampton player is expected to leave quietly soon.
Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz joined Southampton on loan from Bayern Munich in January and quickly became very important to the team. Sky Sports Germany said the club planned to buy him for about £6 million, even if they weren’t promoted. But now, BILD reports that Peretz will return to Bayern next month, which is a big disappointment for the club.
Bayern will need to find a new team for him since they were ready to move him on this summer. Meanwhile, Bayern keep their other goalkeepers for next season.
A former EFL legal head, Geoff Cunningham, told the Press Association that Southampton’s spying could be a breach of contract for players. However, the club must be careful to prove that the break is serious enough for players to end their contracts.
Even if not, many top Southampton players are still expected to leave after missing out on promotion. Scienza, who was their Player of the Season, is attracting interest from Premier League clubs like Aston Villa, Leeds, and Everton. Everton is also reportedly interested in midfielder Tom Fellows.
Midfielder Shea Charles is also likely to leave, with rumors connecting him to Manchester United, and forward Cyle Larin, who scored 8 goals in 16 Championship games on loan, will probably return to Mallorca, his parent club.