Japan captain Maya Yoshida has joined Schalke on a one-year contract from Italy¡¯s Sampdoria, the German first-division club said.
Yoshida, who led the Samurai Blue to 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification earlier this year, has signed for the newly-promoted Bundesliga side after 2? seasons in Serie A.
¡°It¡¯s good to know new football,¡± said Yoshida. ¡°I¡¯m a very curious man so I believe I can learn many new things from new football, a new culture. I¡¯m buzzing.¡±
The 33-year-old previously spent 7? in the Premier League with Southampton and is Japan¡¯s fourth-most capped player with 119 appearances. He opened his career with the J. League¡¯s Nagoya Grampus before moving to Holland¡¯s VVV-Venlo in 2010.
A key part of Japan¡¯s 2011 Asian Cup-winning squad, Yoshida has represented his country at two World Cups as well as three Olympic men¡¯s soccer tournaments.
He will become the third Japanese defender to have played for Schalke, replacing 2021-22 loanee Ko Itakura and following in the footsteps of retired Samurai Blue star Atsuto Uchida, who called the club home from 2010 to 2016.
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