Yoshida Signs New Deal At St Mary's

Saints have announced that Yoshida has signed a new contract at St Mary's keeping him at the club till 2020.

The Press release announcing the deal announced that the defender, who joined Saints five seasons ago, today penned a fresh agreement that runs until the summer of 2020.

it continued that Yoshida has been an important part in Saints’ success since he arrived at St Mary’s in 2012, making 138 appearances for the team to date. and that last season, he became the first Japanese player to play 100 Premier League games, and is now set to remain an integral part of the Southampton squad in the coming years.

Vice Chairman (Football) Les Reed said:

"We are extremely pleased to have reached a new agreement with Maya, who is a vital part of our squad, not only on the pitch, but off it."

"Maya is a player who has taken great strides in his game during his time with us, and his influence was felt particularly last season, as he formed outstanding partnerships with both Virgil van Dijk and Jack Stephens, helping the team reach the EFL Cup final."

"Maya is an excellent example for any young professional to follow and it was important to ensure that we extended our commitment with him."

"We are excited about the depth we now possess at the centre-back position for the years ahead, with Maya’s new deal strengthening our excellent group even further for the coming seasons.”

Maya Yoshida commented:

"There was no reason to leave the club. I have been here for five years. In that time, I have had difficult moments, good moments — everything."

"I feel like it's my home and I'm very happy to continue my journey with Southampton. It's a new chapter for my career."

Whilst it is good to see Yoshida rewarded for his contribution and loyalty over the past few seasons and to be straight he has made a significant contribution, it does mean that Saints are top heavy in the central defender department with the problem being that we are short on quality if Van Dijk leaves even though we will not be short on quantity.

In Van Dijk and Hoedt you have two quality central defenders, but Yoshida, Stephens, Gardos and now Bedarek are not Premier quality as anything more than back up and four backs us is an awful lot to have.

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