Tokyo: Spanish international midfielder Andres Iniesta has signed a deal with Japanese football club Vissel Kobe, Japan’s state news agency NHK reported Wednesday and thus confirmed growing speculation about the player’s move to the J-League after ending his 22-year-long career at FC Barcelona.
Iniesta, who was set to travel to Japan later Wednesday, could be officially introduced Thursday at an event in Tokyo, although Vissel Kobe refused to confirm the ceremony when contacted by a couple of media houses.
The two-time European champion and scorer of the only goal in Spain’s victorious World Cup final victory against the Netherlands, played his last game Sunday for Barcelona and received an emotional farewell from the club and fans.
The Spanish midfielder will start at his new club after playing for Spain in the upcoming World Cup in Russia.
Hiroshi Mikitani, the owner of Vissel Kobe, is the founder and CEO of tech giant Rakuten, which is the major sponsor of FC Barcelona.
Iniseta is following in the steps of former Spanish nationals Txiki Begiristain, Andoni Goikoetxea and Juilo Salinas, who played in the J-league in the 1990s.
Earlier Iniesta was linked with a move to Chinese club Chongqing Lifan, but the speculation died a quick death with the club stating that they did not have the finance to acquire the 33-year-old midfield general.
During an incredible 22-year-old career at Barcelona, the pint-sized dynamo won an incredible 32 trophies among which were multiple Champions League and La Liga winner’s medals.
