Scotland World Cup wildcard set for summer of uncertainty as club confirm release alongside ex-Rangers ace

Stewart, 29, was handed a surprise recall to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the summer’s World Cup after a blistering second half of the campaign at St Mary’s, where he scored nine goals as the Saints finished in the EFL Championship playoff spots. However, they were expelled from the competition after admitting to spying on several teams' training sessions during the 2025–26 campaign.

Capped twice by Scotland in 2022 during his time with Sunderland, Stewart endured a nightmare couple of seasons on the treatment table following an £8million move to Southampton just a year later, but made his return to the international stage as a second-half substitute in last weekend’s 4-0 pre-tournament warm-up friendly win over Bolivia in New Jersey. His club future was a source of uncertainty, though.

Having originally held an option to extend his contract by a further season, Southampton confirmed that had missed that window, with club chairman Dragan Solak telling the Daily Echo: “We had to initiate the option up to five days after the last game of the season, and we were out of the five days when our final got cancelled. When we knew there was no last game, we immediately sent the notice of the extension, but his lawyers say that they’re disagreeing with us.

“Ultimately, it’s on Ross and his team to basically decide whether they want to stay or not. In my opinion, nobody would be better for Ross than us. We worked hard to allow him physically to show how good he is. He went from a guy who didn’t play for two years to be invited to the World Cup team. I’m really proud of that. If he wants to try his luck somewhere else, I can’t stop him, but I would love to have him back. We have made an effort to keep him.”

However, it has now been confirmed that former Ross County striker Stewart will depart the club after three seasons, after Southampton confirmed his release via their official website, alongside Oriol Romeu, Will Smallbone, Alex McCarthy, Jamie Jones, Charlie Taylor and former Rangers favourite Joe Aribo.

A popular figure during his three-season stay at Ibrox, winning the Scottish Premiership, Scottish League Cup, and Scottish Cup during his time with the club. He is perhaps best remembered for scoring the opening goal in the Europa League final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, prior to a £6million move to Southampton four years ago. The 29-year-old, who ended last season on loan at relegated Leicester City, leaves having amassed 111 appearances in all competitions for the English second-tier outfit.

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