Lewis Payne joins Eastleigh on loan

After signing a new contract with the club last week, the 18-year-old now heads out to experience his first senior loan move, joining Saints' non-league neighbours until the end of the 2022/23 season.

It is the next milestone in a memorable campaign so far for the young right-back, who provided an assist on his first team debut in the Carabao Cup against Cambridge United back in August.

Payne has experienced first team training and matchday squads on multiple occasions, while appearing 17 times for Dave Horseman's B team and scoring two goals.

He joins Lee Bradbury's playoff-chasing Spitfires, who currently sit in ninth place in the Vanarama National League table.

The club wishes Lewis all the best for the remainder of the campaign and looks forward to monitoring his progress.