Kazuyoshi Miura, who turns 59 in February and is the world's oldest professional footballer, has finalized a loan deal until June with J3 League club Fukushima United.
This move means Miura might feature in the Japanese professional league - the top three divisions of football in Japan - for the first time in five years.
The former Japan striker, who began his professional journey 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 prepares for a 41st season as a professional footballer.
"I'm very grateful to be given this opportunity. I vow I will play with everything I have to help the team. Let's make history together!"
Known 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 featured in Australia, Italy, and Croatia, signed for the club in 2005 but has remained absent from the pitch for them since 2020.
He scored 55 goals in 89 games in an international career that concluded in 2000, two years after his notable omission from the squad for Japan's first World Cup finals appearance.
Miura, who has talked of playing until he is 60, said he was ready to "take on a new challenge" after being relegated last season to the country's lower regional divisions.
Fukushima United finished 10th in the 20-team J3 League last season.
