Southampton have signed Japanese defender Yukinari Sugawara from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
The 24-year-old joined for an undisclosed fee reported be in the region of £6 million and signed a four-year contract with St Mary’s.
Sugawara is Saints manager Russell Martin’s seventh signing this summer and the club’s fifth defensive addition.
Martin said he had been monitoring Sugawara “for a long time” and that the player was his “number one target” at right-back.
“He arrives at a good age, with many games already played at a high level, including extensive European experience,” said Martin.
“He is a talented football player, with a great mentality and a character that we believe will be very popular among his teammates. You can feel his enthusiasm and determination to do well.”
Sugawara began his J-League career with Nagoya Grampus before moving to AZ in June 2019, initially on loan.
During his five-year stay in the Netherlands, he made 198 appearances in all competitions, including a club record 53 appearances in Europe.
Sugawara made his international debut for Japan in October 2020 and has won 13 caps.
He said the style of football played by Southampton was a key factor in his decision to join the newly promoted Premier League club.
He added: “Last summer I played against Southampton in pre-season. I felt Southampton played really good football with the ball. They didn’t play long balls, just short passes, they played intelligently.
“I felt that Southampton is a very good club. When Southampton made me an offer, I said yes after a second.”
