J. League club Vissel Kobe on Thursday announced the audacious signing of World Cup-winning former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta in a deal reported to be worth over ¥3 billion a year.
"This is a very special day for me," the 34-year-old Iniesta, who played his 669th and final game for Barcelona last Sunday, told a news conference in Tokyo attended by more than 300 reporters. "It's an important challenge for my career.
"I'd like to move forward with this club. I'd like to help the J. League expand in Asia. I'd like to get to know my teammates and I'm really looking forward to that. This is a country that I really love, and me and my family are looking forward to settling in and enjoying our time here."