Kazuyoshi Miura, set to turn 59 next month and is the world's oldest professional footballer, has agreed to a loan deal until June with J3 League club Fukushima United.
The transfer means Miura could play in the Japanese professional league - encompassing the highest tiers of Japanese football - for the initial occasion in half a decade.
The ex-international forward, who began his professional journey with Brazilian side Santos in 1986, did not find the net in just over an hour across seven outings last season while on loan at JFL side Atletico Suzuka.
"My love for the game hasn't changed, 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 everything I have 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 J2 League side Yokohama FC.
Miura, who has also featured in Italy, Croatia and Australia, joined the club in 2005 but has not played a minute for them since 2020.
He netted 55 goals in 89 games in an career for the national team that ended in 2000, shortly following 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 finished 10th in the 20-team third division last season.
