Kazuyoshi Miura, set to turn 59 next month and is the world's oldest professional footballer, has signed a loan deal until June with J3 League club Fukushima United.
This move means Miura could play in the J.League - encompassing the highest tiers of Japanese football - for the initial occasion in five years.
The ex-international forward, who began his professional journey with Brazilian side 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, regardless of my age," he said as he gears up for a 41st season as a professional footballer.
"I'm very grateful to be given this opportunity. I promise I will play with everything I have to help the team. Together, we can create a legacy!"
Known 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 scored 55 goals in 89 games in an career for the national team that ended in 2000, two years after his notable omission 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 relegated last season to the country's lower regional divisions.
Fukushima United ended the season in tenth place in the 20-team third division last season.
