Southampton have completed the signing of defender Cuco Martina from FC Twente as the argument over the future of Toby Alderweireld rumbles on.
Martina, 25, worked with Saints assistant coach Erwin Koeman during his time with RKC Waalwijk in Holland, and the Curacao international says he is realising the ambition of a lifetime by making a move to the Premier League.
"I'm very happy to be here at a big club like Southampton," Martina told the club's official website. "I've followed Southampton now for two years and I see they are now a big club.
Martina: "It was a dream for me to play in the @premierleague and finally I can." #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/BMQr4t2ebY
- Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 7, 2015
"I know Ronald Koeman and Erwin Koeman. I worked with Erwin for one year and everything was good. He knows my qualities and I know what he wants.
"It was a dream for me to play in the Premier League and finally I can play now. I hope to play many games and show the fans who I am."
Martina's arrival is timely given that Ryan Bertrand underwent minor surgery on both knees which is likely to rule him out of Southampton's first few games of the Premier League campaign.
The signing adds to Koeman's defensive options after the disappointment of seemingly losing out on the signing of Alderweireld, with sources telling ESPN FC that the Belgian central defender underwent a medical at Tottenham on Monday.
Alderweireld was a big success as he spent last season on loan at Southampton from Atletico Madrid, while reports suggested the Saints were considering legal action against Atletico should the Spanish club sell Alderweireld to any other club.
Atletico allegedly missed a deadline to cancel a buyout in the deal that saw Southampton sign the Belgian defender last summer, and Saints boss Ronald Koeman confirmed on Monday that he believed his club had done everything required legally to sign Alderweireld.
