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 J.League - encompassing the highest tiers of Japanese football - for the first time in half a decade.
The ex-international forward, who began his professional journey with the Brazilian club Santos in 1986, did not find the net 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 presented with this chance. 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 J2 League side Yokohama FC.
The veteran, who has also played club football in Italy, Croatia and Australia, signed for the club in 2005 but has not played a minute for them since 2020.
He scored 55 goals in 89 games in an career for the national team that concluded in 2000, two years after his surprising exclusion 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 "take on a new challenge" after being relegated last season to Japan's regional leagues.
Fukushima United finished 10th in the twenty-club third division last season.
