Soccer-Japan veteran Yuto Nagatomo joins Marseille

Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo has signed a one-season deal with former European champions Olympique Marseille, the French club said on Monday. "He has this experience as captain, dressing-room leader, he speaks several languages," Villas-Boas said. Nagatomo, who played in the last three World Cup finals with Japan and has 122 caps, spent seven years at Inter Milan before moving to Turkey in 2018.

Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo has signed a one-season deal with former European champions Olympique Marseille, the French club said on Monday. The veteran left back, who turns 34 on Sept. 12, moves on a free transfer from Galatasaray, with Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas predicting he will add an extra dimension to the squad. "He has this experience as captain, dressing-room leader, he speaks several languages," Villas-Boas said.

Nagatomo, who played in the last three World Cup finals with Japan and has 122 caps, spent seven years at Inter Milan before moving to Turkey in 2018. He is Marseille’s third major signing of the new Ligue 1 season after Pape Gueye from Watford and Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi from Borussia Dortmund. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Johannesburg; Editing by Clare Fallon)