Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has signed with Japanese side Vissel Kobe, kicking off a new chapter in his career after a storied 16 years with Barcelona, the J.League club said on Thursday.
Iniesta future decided
The 34-year-old former Barcelona captain, who had spent his entire career with the Spanish giants, was introduced at a news conference in Tokyo by Kobe owner Hiroshi Mikitani.
ようこそイニエスタ!
— ヴィッセル神戸 (@vissel_kobe) 24 May 2018
Bienvenido Iniesta!
Welcome Iniesta!
Willkommen Iniesta!
Iniesta seja bem vindo!
ยินดีต้อนรับอิเนียสต้า!
잘오셨어요 이니에스타 !https://t.co/fXn41SrydR#vissel #BienvenidoIniesta #iniesta #WeAreKobe @andresiniesta8 pic.twitter.com/ok1mettKqj
Ahead of the official announcement, Iniesta had posted on Instagram a photo of himself and Mikitani with a message that he was "heading to my new home".
Mikitani is also the head of Barca's main sponsor Rakuten.