Southampton sign Japanese international Yukinari Sugawara from AZ Alkmaar

Southampton have announced the signing of Yukinari Sugawara from AZ Alkmaar on a four-year contract. The Japanese international right-back, aged 24, joins the Premier League side after a five-year stint in the Netherlands.

Sugawara began his professional career at 17 with Nagoya Grampus in Japan's J.League before moving to Alkmaar in 2019, initially on loan.

During his time at AZ, he played nearly 200 games for the first team and set a club record with 53 appearances in European competitions.

Expressing his excitement about the move, Sugawara said, “Playing in the Premier League has been one of my biggest dreams since I was young. I am really excited to be here.”

He added, “Last summer, I played against Southampton in pre-season and was impressed by their style of play. They play smart football with short passing, not long balls. When the offer came, I said yes immediately.”

Southampton manager Russell Martin praised the new signing, stating, “Yuki is a player we’ve watched for a long time and was our number one target in his position. He brings a lot of experience at a high level, including European competitions. He’s a talented footballer with a great mentality and a character we believe will be popular with his teammates.”