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.
Iniesta, who had spent his entire career with Barcelona, was introduced at a news conference in Tokyo by Kobe owner Hiroshi Mikitani.
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.