Yoshida started his career at Nagoya Grampus, where Arsenal's Arsene Wenger used to be manager. He scored the team's first ever goal in the AFC Champions League for Grampus, before moving to Holland at the end of 2009. In 2011, Yoshida scored with a bicycle kick straight from a corner, for Dutch team VVV-Venlo. The goal was voted 'Goal of the season 2011-12', in the Dutch Premier League.

Japan went to the World Cup for the first time in 1998, and have qualified for every World Cup since then, including the 2002 World Cup that was organised by Japan and South Korea. The first time they played in the Asian Cup was in 1988, but they have won it a record four times, the last in 2011. Japan won the bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Maya Yoshida has played over 30 times for the Japanese national team. 

In Brazil, at the 2014 World Cup, Japan played Colombia, Greece and Ivory Coast in their group. Unfortunately they didn't win a game.

How popular is football in Japan?

The incredible popularity of football in Japan began in 1993, when the Japan Professional Football League (The J-League) was formed. It was a fully professional league that attracted foreign players (for example Zico of Brazil, Gary Lineker of England and Salvatore Schillaci of Italy), and many more spectators than the old Japan Soccer League. Japanese football can now present excellent marketing opportunities. Maya Yoshida is on the cover of the FIFA 14 video game with Lionel Messi! "Hopefully it will encourage fans at home to pick up the controller and play as Saints!" Yoshida says.

Which other Japanese players have played in the Premier League?

Maya Yoshida is not the first Japanese player in the Premier League. The first was Junichi Inamoto, who was signed by Arsene Wenger, for Arsenal in 2000. Inamoto went on to play for Fulham, West Brom and Cardiff City. Other famous Japanese players to have played in the Premier League include:

1. Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton Wanderers)
2. Ryo Miyaichi (Arsenal)
3. Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United)

Shinji Kagawa became the first Japanese player to win the Premier League title in 2012/13.

What do we know about Southampton FC?

Southampton FC began in 1885 as a church football team, which is why their nickname is ‘The Saints’. Their best position in the top division was in 1983-84 when they finished second. As a second division team, they won the FA Cup in 1976 in a famous final against Manchester United (1-0). Southampton is a city on the south coast of England.