Kazuyoshi Miura, who turns 59 in February and is the world's oldest professional footballer, has agreed to a temporary transfer until June with Japanese third division side Fukushima United.
This move means Miura might feature in the J.League - encompassing the highest tiers of Japanese football - for the first time in half a decade.
The ex-international forward, who started his career with the Brazilian club Santos in 1986, failed to score 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, regardless of my age," he said as he gears up for a forty-first campaign as a pro footballer.
"I am truly thankful 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 J2 League side Yokohama FC.
Miura, who has also featured in Australia, Italy, and Croatia, signed for 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 concluded in 2000, shortly following his notable omission from the squad for Japan's first World Cup finals appearance.
The footballer, who has expressed a desire for continuing his career into his seventh decade, said he was ready to "embrace a fresh test" after being demoted last season to Japan's regional leagues.
Fukushima finished 10th in the 20-team J3 League last season.
