<!--Article Start--> <p style="text-align: justify">Southampton announced the signing of Cuco Martina on Tuesday amid speculation fellow defender Toby Alderweireld could be joining Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.</p> . <p style="text-align: justify">Martina's arrival at St Mary's on a two-year deal from Dutch side FC Twenty comes after full-back Ryan Bertrand underwent knee surgery.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Now Martina, Dutch manager Ronald Koeman's latest recruit from the Eredivisie, will have a chance to establish himself during Southampton's pre-season tour of Austria.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I'm very happy to be here at a big club like Southampton," the 25-year-old said in a club statement.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I've followed Southampton now for two years and I see they are now a big club.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I know Ronald Koeman and Erwin Koeman (Ronald's brother and his assistant at Southampton) -- I worked with Erwin for one year and everything was good. He knows my qualities and I know what he wants.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"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."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Martin is the fourth pre-season arrival at St Mary's, following Juanmi and Cedric Soares and the loan signing of Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenberg.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Whether he will play in the same Southampton side as Alderweireld remains uncertain.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The Belgium defender impressed on loan at Saints last season and the south coast club believe they have the first option to sign him on a permanent deal from Atletico Madrid.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But there have been reports in the British media that he has undergone a medical at Spurs, prompting suggestions Southampton could take legal action against the London side should he move to White Hart Lane.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p> <!--Article End-->