Peretz, 26, enjoyed an outstanding loan spell from Bayern Munich in the second half of last campaign.
The Israeli kept nine clean sheets in 26 games and made key saves during Saints’ 21-game unbeaten run into the play-off places.
He also played four of Saints’ five FA Cup games before their semi-final defeat by Manchester City at Wembley.
Despite being kicked out of the play-off final for spying, Saints quickly agreed a deal with Bayern for Peretz.
The keeper signed a four-year deal for a fee in the region of €7million.
(Image: Stuart Martin)
“First of all, from the second I arrived here in January, I felt at home and I got a really warm welcome,” Peretz told the Daily Echo.
“I was not in an easy situation back then and I got so much love and support from the club. So, it’s not something that I forgot and forget.
“The club had a bit of a difficult situation obviously with everything that happened.
“I believe a lot in this club and I could see the owner and the board, how they approached the season and how they see the things and they were really convincing.
“And it was, to be honest, an easy decision for me to stay here and to do the best to achieve our goals.”
Some of the best stops from Daniel Peretz 👏
A thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/2zj6aIPHxn
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) June 6, 2026
Saints confirmed Peretz’s deal 17 days after the verdict that threw them out of the play-off final.
On making the decision quickly, the goalkeeper added: “After everything happened, I needed just a few days, a week off to disconnect from everything, to let the emotions and everything to go away. And then to just feel clean.
“My heart was always saying that I want to stay.
“We have a really good group of players and the staff and the people that are working in the club and for sure, the fans.
“So, when it feels home, you need to stay.”
Peretz has been handed the number one shirt at St Mary’s ahead of the new season and played the first 45 minutes of Saints’ 1-0 friendly win at Eintracht Braunschweig on Friday evening.
The 26 year old had missed the first friendly against Eastleigh with a wrist precaution.
Peretz made seven senior appearances for Bayern and spent the first half of last season on loan at Bundesliga side Hamburg, where he was limited to just two cup appearances, before joining Saints.
“Really nice to be here in Germany to improve again my German a bit more,” the goalkeeper chuckled.
“Really good team appearance. We managed to win and take a clean sheet home.
“It’s always important also when it’s a friendly. It’s good for our confidence and it’s also a mental game for us.
“But again, it’s only the second game and we’re already showing our habits. Good performance for sure.
“We have a lot of bits to improve, but that’s a good start.”
Saints’ Daniel Peretz deals with a cross against Eintracht Braunschweig (Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC)
Saints will spend the rest of the week at a training camp in Germany, where they will play two friendlies.
Eckert’s men will play a behind-closed-doors game in midweek before facing German third-tier side Preußen Münster on Saturday.
Their season starts next weekend at League Two side Colchester United in the Carabao Cup first round.
The Championship campaign begins at Watford on Sunday, August 16.
Saints will start the league season on minus four points but carry a 21-match Championship unbeaten run into it.
But Peretz says he and his team-mates are not dwelling on last season and are focused only on the next game.
“Our only focus will be on the first game,” the Saints stopper declared.
“That’s how it works. We are not thinking too much ahead. Every game at a time.
“So, first game, it will be a cup game. But again, for that, we need to be ready and that’s why we are here again.
“Two [more] games. So, let’s finish the training camp. Let’s do good games. Go with confidence in the season and then, first game of the cup.”