Saints have announced their fourth summer signing with the arrival of versatile defender Cuco Martina from FC Twente on a two-year deal.

The 25-year-old Curaçao international, who has been capped 20 times by the Dutch Caribbean island, will link up with the squad in time for this week's training camp in Austria and admits that it is a "dream" to be moving to the Premier League.

Manager Ronald Koeman has acted quickly to find cover in defence with Ryan Bertrand, Saints' first-choice left-back, ruled out for a number of weeks because of knee surgery.

"I’m very happy to be here at a big club like Southampton," Martina said in an official statement.

"I’ve followed Southampton now for two years and I see they are now a big club.

"I know Ronald Koeman and Erwin Koeman – I worked with Erwin for one year and everything was good. He knows my qualities and I know what he wants.

"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."

Martina's natural position is right-back, but he can also fill in on the left or central midfield.

He has moved to St Mary's from Twente for a reported fee of €1.5m - just over £1m - after two years at De Grolsch Veste.

It means Saints will have cover as they prepare to deal with the extra games a Europa League campaign will potentially bring.

Koeman revealed yesterday that Bertrand had undergone a “small” operation on both knees and was likely going to be sidelined for five-to-six weeks.

Now the Dutch manager has again raided the Eredivisie to bolster his numbers in defence, with a deal for centre back Toby Alderweireld, who was on loan at St Mary's from Atletico Madrid last season, looking increasingly unlikely.

Koeman announced a deal was close for Martina yesterday.

"We are interested in the player and we like to sign the player,” he said.

"It’s because Ryan Bertrand had a small surgery ten days ago in both knees and he will be out for the next coming weeks and totally the number of defenders we have is too small, we need more competition, and that player of FC Twente, Martina, is available in three of the four positions in the defence and that gives us more players, more defenders to play a tough season."

Martina, who was born in Rotterdam, worked under Saints' assistant manager Erwin Koeman during his time at RKC Waalwijk.

He also links up once more with former Twente team-mate Dusan Tadic, who moved to Saints last summer.

"Cuco is a versatile and experienced defender who will add strength and depth to our squad ahead of the coming season," said executive director of football, Les Reed, in an official statement.

"Injuries to Ryan Bertrand and Bevis Mugabi highlighted the need to bring in another defender, and Cuco is the perfect solution.

"He is another hungry player who is excited about coming to our club, and will provide healthy competition for places in our defence."

Martina joins Spanish attacker Juanmi, Portuguese right-back Cedric Soares and Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg as Saints' fourth signing.