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#3 Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
Having played over 150 games at centre-back for the English side, Maya Yoshida is one of the more experienced Asian players in the Premier League. The Japanese is a regular starter for his team and also captains the side in the absence of club captain, Steven Davis.
Yoshida has also scored 10 goals in 80 appearances for his national side.
Armed with experience, the man from Nagasaki is solid in defence and is a leader at the back for Southampton, who are currently missing his services due to injury and will be desperate to see their man back in action ASAP.
Yoshida has played alongside (rather successfully) the likes of Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom moved on to greener pastures but have failed to replicate the performances they put in for the Saints.
Whether the absence of the calm, no-nonsense demeanour of the Saints' centre-back had anything to do with it, is anybody's guess. Either way, the defender has found space (something the forwards fail to find against him) in our list for the top 5 most talented Asian footballers currently playing in Europe.
