Andres Iniesta signs with Japan’s Vissel Kobe

Andres Iniesta has signed with Japanese club Vissel Kobe after leaving boyhood club FC Barcelona.

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.

Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta poses with Hiroshi Mikitani, owner of Vissel Kobe, at a news conference to announce signing for J-League side Vissel Kobe in Tokyo. (REUTERS)

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.

READ | Andres Iniesta says going to ‘new home’ Japan

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.