Southampton snap up Sugawara

Southampton person signed Japan right-back Yukinari Sugawara from AZ Alkmaar for a reported interest of £6million.

Sugawara joined AZ from Nagoya Grampus successful 2019 and made complete 200 appearances for nan Eredivisie club.

The 24-year-old is nan latest enlistee astatine St Mary’s arsenic nan Saints hole for life backmost successful nan Premier League aft triumph complete Leeds successful nan Championship play-off final. 

Sugawara joins nan likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Nathan Wood, Ronnie Edwards and Adam Lallana arsenic portion of Russell Martin’s squad.

He told nan club’s charismatic website: “To travel to Southampton and to play successful nan Premier League is 1 of my biggest dreams since I was young, truthful I americium really excited to beryllium here.

“Last summertime I played against Southampton successful nan pre-season. I felt Southampton played very bully shot pinch nan ball; they didn’t play agelong balls, only short passing, they played smart.

“I felt Southampton is simply a really bully club. When Southampton gave maine an offer, I said yes aft 1 second.”

Yuki’s a RED ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ggH2XlIpCF

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 14, 2024

Martin added: “Yuki is simply a subordinate we’ve watched for a agelong clip and was our number 1 target successful his position.

“He arrives astatine a bully property pinch a batch of games already nether his loop astatine a precocious level, including a wealthiness of European experience. He’s a talented footballer pinch a awesome mentality, and a characteristic we deliberation will beryllium really celebrated pinch his team-mates.

“You tin consciousness his enthusiasm and determination to do good – he’s really excited to play for Southampton, not conscionable to play successful nan Premier League.”