SAINTS defender Maya Yoshida is mixing it with some of the biggest names in world football - after being selected to go on the cover of the FIFA 14 video game.

Saints' central defender Maya Yoshida is the FIFA 14 cover star in Japan alongside Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi and VFL Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe.

Yoshida said: "It's brilliant. I was really pleased when I heard that I would be on the cover of FIFA 14, and to be featuring alongside Messi is a great honour.

"It's not only nice for me, but also for Southampton Football Club because the game is such a huge platform, so to be among the list of global cover stars means so much to me and the Club."

In the UK, former Saint Gareth Bale will be the local star on the cover, alongside Messi, who appears on all the FIFA 14 covers worldwide.

Saints have also joined Manchester City, Barcelona and Liverpool in signing a deal with EA Sports, which sees the publisher become the club's official Football Video Gaming Partner.

The deal means EA Sports will be visiting St. Mary's during the season to give fans the chance to try their hand at FIFA 14.

Supporters will also be able to get a free download of a cover for FIFA 14 featuring three Saints stars from September 27, when the game is released on PS3 and XBox 360 in the UK.