Andres Iniesta Says He is Moving to Japan, Expected to Sign with Vissel Kobe

Andres Iniesta reportedly will move to Japanese side Vissel Kobe, according to Sky Sports News:

The Spain international, who called time on his Barcelona career on Sunday after helping the Blaugrana complete a Copa del Rey and La Liga double, posted a picture on his Twitter account alongside Hiroshi Mikitani, owner of Vissel:

Iniesta has been linked with a move to the J-League for much of the last month. Earlier in May, Spanish source Cadena Ser and ESPN's Jordi Blanco (h/t ESPN.com) reported an agreement had been reached.

Cadena Ser referenced figures of a three-year contract paying the veteran midfielder $3 million annually. The 34-year-old had previously been expected to join the lucrative Chinese Super League, with the player revealing an offer in March, per Rik Sharma for Reuters (h/t the Daily Mail).

Iniesta's decision to opt for Japan instead is quite a statement and a coup for Mikitani and Vissel. The club secured the services of former Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski last summer, but the Spaniard is undoubtedly a bigger name.

The classy midfielder won 32 top honours during his decorated 22-year spell at Barcelona, including four UEFA Champions League trophies. Iniesta also scored the winning goal for Spain against the Netherlands in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.

His game has always been about vision and creativity from the advanced areas of midfield. Even his last game, Barca's 1-0 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday, saw the graduate of the club's famed La Masia academy still taking care of the ball, per OptaJose:

Iniesta's efficiency and class in possession will make him an instant hit in Japan, a country which has produced its own share of gifted attacking midfielders in recent years, including Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda and Takashi Inui.

Vissel are sixth in the Japanese top flight but can expect their fortunes to improve as soon as Iniesta joins the squad.