Yoshida signs new Southampton contract

The 26-year-old defender puts pen to paper on a deal until 2018 as he leaves to join up with the Japan squad for their Asia Cup campaign, having made eight league starts this term

Japan international Maya Yoshida has agreed a new three-year contract with Southampton that will see him stay at the club until 2018.

The defender arrived at St Mary's Stadium from VVV-Venlo in August 2012 and has made 60 appearances for the club in that time, scoring three goals.

In his first season on the south coast, he was a first-team regular at centre-back, making 32 appearances as Southampton finished 14th in the Premier League.

He has played more of a peripheral role this season under Ronald Koeman, though, making eight league starts - half of those coming in December.

Having extended his stay with the Saints, the 26-year-old has now flown out to Australia to link up with Japan's Asian Cup squad ahead of their first game in the tournament against Palestine on January 12.

Defending champions Japan are expected to go a long way in the competition once again, meaning that Yoshida is unlikely to feature for his club until early February.