Kazuyoshi Miura, who turns 59 in February and is recognized globally as football's most senior pro, has signed a temporary transfer until June with Japanese third division side Fukushima United.
The transfer means Miura could play in the Japanese professional league - encompassing the highest tiers of Japanese football - for the first time in half a decade.
The former Japan striker, who began his professional journey with the Brazilian club Santos in 1986, did not find the net in 69 minutes across seven outings last season while on loan at fourth-tier club Atletico Suzuka.
"My love for the game remains undimmed, regardless of my age," he said as he gears up for a forty-first campaign as a professional footballer.
"I am truly thankful to be given this opportunity. I promise I will play with everything I have to make a contribution. Let's make history together!"
Known as 'King Kazu' in Japan, this will be Miura's fourth temporary move since 2022 from second division club Yokohama FC.
Miura, who has also featured in Italy, Croatia and Australia, signed for the club in 2005 but has remained absent from the pitch for them since 2020.
He netted 55 goals in 89 games in an career for the national team that concluded in 2000, two years after his notable omission from the squad for Japan's maiden FIFA World Cup campaign.
The footballer, who has talked of playing until he is 60, said he was ready to "take on a new challenge" after being demoted last season to the country's lower regional divisions.
Fukushima finished 10th in the twenty-club third division last season.
