Yoshida: “Delighted to stay on at Samp”

After putting pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him at Sampdoria until June 2022, Maya Yoshida looked back on the events of the last 12 months: from his unexpected move to Italy to making his debut, lockdown and becoming a mainstay of Claudio Ranieri’s backline.

“This time last year I would never have thought I’d come to Italy,” Maya begins, speaking in excellent Italian. “Then on deadline day Sampdoria offered me the chance of playing in Serie A. I was on the bus on the way to the airport to play a match against Liverpool when my agent told me to get off. I told him I couldn’t because we were on the motorway but when we reached the runway I got off, I spoke to the coach and decided to join Samp.”

No sooner had our Japanese defender made his Doria bow against Verona than the whole country went into lockdown, but he made the most of the extra time to adapt to Italian football, culture and language, before helping the team avoid relegation with several games to spare.

“I’m really happy to have signed a new contract with Sampdoria. Thanks to everyone. I hope to be successful here. Forza Samp!”