Southampton have reportedly agreed a deal to sign this Eredivisie player, in a transfer worth £5.88million.
Southampton are piecing together a rather promising summer transfer window ahead of their return to the Premier League under Russell Martin.
The Saints have already gotten six new signings over the line in Adam Lallana, Charlie Taylor, and Rento Takaoka on free transfers, whilst spending on Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Martin appears keen to further bolster his Southampton first-team squad this summer, ahead of what promises to be a very tough return to the Premier League.
Several names continue to be linked including last season’s loan hero Flynn Downes, whilst names are being linked with possible moves away from St Mary’s too, including Kyle Walker-Peters who appears to be nearing a move to West Ham.
But now, it’s been revealed that Southampton closing in on what would be their seventh signing of the summer, in a deal worth £5.88million.
Southampton closing in on Yukinari Sugawara transfer deal, says Fabrizio Romano
Southampton have recently been linked with a summer transfer move for AZ Alkmaar right-back Yukinari Sugawara.
The 24-year-old Japanese international featured 30 times in the Eredivisie last season, scoring four goals and assisting seven more as AZ finished the campaign in 4th place of the table.
Now, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Southampton have ‘confirmed’ a deal to sign Sugawara on a four-year deal, worth a fee of €7million (£5.88million).
Sugawara began his career in his native Japan with Nagoya Grampus before moving to AZ, initially on loan, in 2019, having since racked up 198 first-team appearances with 14 goals and 29 assists.
Sugawara also has 13 caps for Japan and one goal.
Yukinari Sugawara arrival at Southampton may hint at one thing
Sugawara’s stats in the Eredivisie with AZ are certainly impressive, and at 24 years old, he’s at a good age to arrive in England and for Martin to mould him into the type of player he wants him to be.
But his arrival may also hint at Walker-Peters being on his way out of Southampton this summer, following his impressive 2023/24 season in the Championship.
For Sugawara, replacing an experienced and proven Premier League right-back in Walker-Peters will be very difficult, especially having never played in England before.
And replacing a player who really suited the passing style of play at Southampton will be equally hard, with Sugawara and his new side having little over a month before their Premier League opener vs Newcastle United on August 17th.
But Martin continues to bring in new signings in what is proving to be an exciting summer transfer window for the Saints.