Brazilian midfielder Bismarck, formerly with Kashima Antlers and Verdy Kawasaki, has been acquired by Vissel Kobe in the J. League first division, soccer sources said Tuesday.
Bismarck, whose four-month contract will run from Sept. 1 until Jan. 1 next year, is scheduled to arrive in Japan sometime next week in time for a match against Shimizu S-Pulse at Kobe Universiade Stadium on Sept. 6.
According to Vissel Kobe official Koji Nishimata, negotiations with the 33-year-old began after a second-stage match against JEF United Ichihara and an agreement was reached recently.
"Bismarck will add some much-needed strength to our club. We will look for him to set the tone and depend on him as a free-kick taker," said Nishimata.
Bismarck played nine seasons in Japan with 69 goals in 274 games until 2001.