Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta will leave J-League first-division leaders Vissel Kobe this summer, a source with knowledge of the matter said Friday.
The 2010 World Cup winner, turning 39 on Thursday, is set to play his final game for Kobe against his former side Barcelona in a June 6 friendly match, another source said Saturday.
While Vissel have an Emperor's Cup second-round tie scheduled for June 7, the Japan Football Association, the league and other parties will make a special case for the friendly to go ahead to mark the departure of the world-class midfielder.
Barcelona are to arrive in Japan following their final La Liga game of the season on June 4.
Iniesta, who was capped 131 times and played in four straight World Cups for Spain, won a long list of trophies with Barcelona before leaving for Kobe in July 2018. He helped his new club claim their first major trophy, the Emperor's Cup, on New Year's Day in 2020.
Iniesta, however, is expected to depart Kobe this summer after playing just a few minutes off the bench in two league games this term.
Iniesta, under contract until the end of this season, may continue his career elsewhere, as clubs in the United States and the Middle East are said to be showing interest in him.
