MAYA Yoshida has revealed that he turned down a big-money summer move to Saudi Arabia so that he could stay at Saints.

The defender joined the south coast side back in 2012 from Dutch outfit VVV-Venlo in a deal worth around £3m.

Yoshida has been an integral part of Saints’ excellent run of form that has seen them pick up wins against Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton.

Speaking to the Southampton FC website, the 30-year-old said: “In the last window [last summer], there was interest in me from Saudi Arabia, but I don’t work for the money. 

“I have a good contract with Southampton. If I had an offer from another Premier League club on the same level for an extra one million (pounds), I would choose to stay at Southampton and finish a beautiful career with good friends. 

“If I get an offer from another country, maybe I will decide to see a different part of the world, but no one knows in the future. 

“I think I have a good relationship with the fans and people know I have improved. I have had good times and bad times, but I am still here.”