ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Southampton have signed Uruguay defender Martin Caceres until the end of the season to help shore up a defence hit by injuries and departures, the Premier league club said on Thursday.

The 29-year-old, who has 68 caps for Uruguay, left Juventus after his contract expired last season when he made just six Serie A appearances, missing the final three months through injury.

Southampton were looking for a centre-back in the January transfer window, with Virgil van Dijk injured and former captain Jose Fonte leaving for West Ham, but failed to land their targets and have now turned to ex-Barcelona and Sevilla stopper Caceres.

"Of all of the options that I had, I think that the best option for me was to come to Southampton. I am extremely happy to have joined this club," Caceres said in a club statement.

He joined Juventus permanently in 2012 from Sevilla and had a successful spell at the club, having won four Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia twice and were runners-up in the 2015 Champions League final.

"In a tough situation for us, losing Virgil (van Dijk) to injury, he (Caceres) will bring experience, talent and character," said Saints executive director of football Les Reed.