Edinburgh have signed 29-year-old South African centre Andries Strauss.
Strauss, who played under Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons at the Southern Kings, has signed a contract that ties him to the club until the summer of 2016.
Strauss has made 56 appearances in Super Rugby with the Cheetahs, Sharks and Southern Kings.
The two-time Currie Cup winner and Super Rugby semi-finalist has also represented South Africa Sevens and played for the Springboks against the Barbarians in 2010.
Subject to a medical, Strauss whose brother, Richardt, plays for Leinster and Ireland will train with his team-mates on Monday.
Strauss, who played with Edinburgh team-mates Willem Nel and Izak van der Westhuizen for the Cheetahs, said: “I’m very excited to be here.
“I said during the world sevens series that, if there was a city in the UK that I’d like to play rugby in, then it’d be Edinburgh, so I’m very happy to get this chance in one of the best cities in the world. I’ve spoken a lot to my brother, Richardt, about the strength of the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup and how they compare to Super Rugby, so it’s a massive opportunity for me to experience a different side of the rugby world.
“Hopefully my experience in the southern hemisphere will benefit me when playing here.”
Solomons added: “Strauss is a very mature player with a lot of Super Rugby and Currie Cup premier division experience.
“He did a fantastic job as captain for the Kings. He’s a big boy, is genetically strong and his conditioning is superb.
“He’s a natural athlete in that sense and will make a valuable contribution to Edinburgh Rugby, both in terms of playing and leadership.
“It’s fantastic that he joins us now because he is immediately available for this season and will be totally au fait with everything for when the new season starts, which makes a huge difference.
“We want to go into next season, particularly with a guy like that, being completely comfortable and established.”