Southampton FC has officially parted ways with striker Ross Stewart and six other first-team players following the conclusion of the 2025/26 Championship season. The announcement, made around June 12, 2026, marks the end of a frustrating chapter for the Scotland international whose time at St Mary’s was defined more by the treatment room than the pitch.

Stewart’s contract expires on June 30, 2026, and the club opted not to activate a one-year extension option that was available in the deal. He will leave as a free agent.

A $9.3 million gamble that never paid off

When Southampton signed Stewart from Sunderland on September 1, 2023, for a reported $9.3 million transfer fee, the expectation was straightforward. He was supposed to be the goal-scoring catalyst that powered a promotion push.

Stewart earned approximately $1.04 million annually during his time at the club. Recurring injuries plagued his tenure, including a substantial absence that was reported in October 2025, effectively derailing his contributions during what turned out to be his final season.

The decision not to trigger his extension clause wasn’t purely performance-based, though. A timing dispute complicated matters significantly. The controversy stemmed from a play-off final cancellation linked to a “Spygate” scandal, which created regulatory headaches around contract negotiation windows. Southampton faced sanctions related to that episode, and the ripple effects apparently reached into the boardroom’s contract decisions.

Stewart himself had reportedly shown interest in staying.

The bigger picture at St Mary’s

Southampton’s 2025/26 campaign was spent in the Championship after failing to secure promotion the previous season. Releasing seven first-team players in one announcement signals a significant squad overhaul. Championship clubs operate under tighter financial constraints than their Premier League counterparts, and clearing the wage bill of underperforming or unavailable players is step one in any restructuring plan.

For Stewart specifically, a $9.3 million fee spread across roughly three seasons, with limited match availability throughout, represents one of the less successful transfer investments in Southampton’s recent history. The club will receive no fee for his departure, writing off the entirety of that initial outlay.