Pompey land Japan star

Kawaguchi is Japan's number one

Portsmouth have agreed a £1.8m deal with Yokohama F Marinos for goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

The Japan international is expected to join the First Division club side the J-League side on 21 October.

But he is likely to appear in England sooner than that in Japan's friendly against Nigeria at Southampton's St Mary's stadium on 7 October.

The 26-year-old, who has been seeking a move abroad, made a whistle-stop trip to Fratton Park earlier this month to discuss a move and join in training sessions.

Kawaguchi played for his country at France '98 and won plaudits for his displays between the posts at the Confederations Cup, which Japan finished as runners-up to the world champions.

He is the third Japanese player to join an English side this year after Junichi Inamoto of Arsenal and Akinori Nishizawa of Bolton Wanderers.