Since his arrival in 2012 from Dutch side VVV Venlo, Maya Yoshida has been a constant on the Southampton back line, even contributing at the far end with an occasional goal or assist. The club recognized his improvement and dedication over the last five years, giving him a new three-year contract that will see the 31-year-old remain at St Mary’s through 2020.
Yoshida remains the first choice for Japan head coach Vahid Halilhodzic at centre-back, having earned his 80th cap for the Samurai Blue. It’s not a stretch to say that his international future could continue past Russia to the 2019 Asian Cup UAE and beyond.
