Kazuyoshi Miura, set to turn 59 next month and is the world's oldest professional footballer, has signed a temporary transfer until June with Japanese third division side Fukushima United.
The transfer means Miura might feature in the J.League - the top three divisions of football in Japan - for the initial occasion in half a decade.
The former Japan striker, who started his career with Brazilian side Santos in 1986, failed to score in just over an hour across seven outings last season while on loan at fourth-tier club Atletico Suzuka.
"My love for the game hasn't changed, 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 all my heart to help the team. Together, we can create a legacy!"
Referred to as 'King Kazu' in Japan, this will be Miura's fourth loan since 2022 from second division club Yokohama FC.
The veteran, who has also played club football in Italy, Croatia and Australia, signed for the club in 2005 but has not played a minute for them since 2020.
He scored 55 goals in 89 games in an career for the national team 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 playing until he is 60, said he was ready to "embrace a fresh test" after being demoted last season to the country's lower regional divisions.
Fukushima ended the season in tenth place in the twenty-club J3 League last season.
