LEICESTER, England — Leicester has made defender Luis Hernandez its first signing ahead of its Premier League title defence and first Champions League campaign.

The 27-year-old Hernandez will join the central England club on a four-year deal when his contract at Spanish club Sporting Gijon expires at the end of the month.

The central defender is a product of the Real Madrid youth academy and moved to Sporting in 2012.

Hernandez helped Sporting avoid relegation from La Liga by a point last season, playing 36 times, after they were promoted to the top flight in 2015.

Leicester has been searching for defensive reinforcements to compete with established first-choice centre backs Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, who were key to the team surprisingly winning its first Premier League title.