Cédric Soares was born in Germany to a Portuguese couple who had met while both were living in the country. Two years after his birth the family relocated to Montijo, just outside Lisbon and aged 8, Cédric followed his brother, Kevin, three years his senior into the youth teams of Sporting CP. He made his debut aged 19, in a UEFA Europa League game in November 2010. He then spent a season on loan to another Primera Liga side during which time he was capped at U21 level. Back with his parent club in time for the 2012-13 season he racked up 16 appearances plus another seven in the Europa League but the next campaign he truly established himself and then the following season 2014-15 he had his first taste of Champions League football.

He was called up for his first full cap in October 2014 and by the time he signed for Saints, as a direct replacement for Nathan Clyne, he had added a further three to his collection.

Ronald Koeman had bought a diminutive but determined wing-back who used his pace to get forward but also defended with tenacity and his stock rose significantly when, alongside José Fonte, he was part of the Portugal team that lifted the EURO 2016 trophy.

Strangely, reaching such a pinnacle on the international stage seemed to affect his form domestically, although under a succession of different managers the whole team began to struggle, and in January 2019, Saints new manager Ralph Hasenhutl was content for him to make a loan move to Italy with Milan also having an option to make the move permanent in the summer – an option they did not take up. He returned to Southampton but in his absence the young Frenchman, Jan Valery had become Ralph Hasenhuttl’s preferred choice at right-back.

But then came that horrendous home thrashing at the hands of Leicester and Soares, now in the last year of his contract, was given another opportunity to shine on the Premier League stage. He put in a number of good performances as Saints stabilised and began to pull away from what had once looked like certain relegation.

He consequently joined Arsenal in the January transfer window, initially on loan with Saints at least receiving a loan fee which was preferable to getting nothing in the summer. In June 2020 Arsenal announced that he had been given a permanent contract, thought to be three years and he celebrated when making his debut v Norwich by scoring.

Cédric will be remembered best for two Cup goals he scored. One at Fratton Park in 2019 in the 4-0 League Cup win and the other at Wigan, the year before, when he ran over 100 yards in added time to cement a 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win.