Kazuyoshi Miura, set to turn 59 next month and is the world's oldest professional footballer, has finalized a loan deal until June with J3 League club Fukushima United.
This move means Miura might feature in the J.League - encompassing the highest tiers of Japanese football - for the first time in five years.
The former Japan striker, who started his career with the Brazilian club Santos in 1986, failed to score in 69 minutes across seven appearances last season while on loan at JFL side Atletico Suzuka.
"My love for the game remains undimmed, no matter how old I get," he said as he gears up for a 41st season as a professional footballer.
"I am truly thankful to be presented with this chance. I vow I will play with all my heart to help the team. Let's make history together!"
Referred to as 'King Kazu' in Japan, this will be Miura's fourth loan since 2022 from second division club Yokohama FC.
Miura, who has also featured in Australia, Italy, and Croatia, signed for the club in 2005 but has remained absent from the pitch for them since 2020.
He netted 55 goals in 89 games in an international career that concluded in 2000, two years after his surprising exclusion from the squad for Japan's first World Cup finals appearance.
The footballer, who has talked of continuing his career into his seventh decade, said he was ready to "embrace a fresh test" after being demoted last season to Japan's regional leagues.
Fukushima ended the season in tenth place in the twenty-club J3 League last season.
