Japan defender Yoshida signs new Southampton deal

Southampton: Japan defender Maya Yoshida has signed a new three-year contract with English Premier League club Southampton before heading to the Asian Cup.

Southampton says the 26-year-old Yoshida, who has made 60 appearances since arriving in 2012, is now under contract until 2018.

With Japan's Asian Cup opener on January 12 and the tournament running in Australia until January 31, Yoshida might not return to action for Southampton until February 7 against Queens Park Rangers.

The south-coast club is surprisingly in fourth place - the final Champions League qualification spot - at the start of the second half of the season.