David Villa reunites with Iniesta as striker signs for Vissel Kobe

Spain’s greatest ever goalscorer, former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker David Villa has signed with J-League side Vissel Kobe.

Following four years at New York City FC in MLS, Villa, now aged 36, has decided to join his former club and international teammate, Andres Iniesta in Japan, who also have former Germany star Lukas Podolski.

The Spanish striker announced his move to Kobe in a video uploaded his YouTube channel. Villa says in the clip: “It’s decided, I have a new destination. A great challenge awaits. Asia. New trips. New country. New culture. New team-mates. Hello Japan. Hello Vissel Kobe.”

A growing league

The J-League has seen a restoration of late with big players with worldwide reputations joining the Asian league for the final years of their career.

The aforementioned Iniesta and Podolski were the trendsetters for the move, and since then the likes of Fernando Torres, Victor Ibarbo and former Manchester City striker Jo all currently plying their trade in Japan.

A player for the ages

Villa is widely considered one of the greatest strikers of his generation. Starting his career at Sporting Gijon before joining Real Zaragoza, the forward made a name for himself at Valencia where he scored 107 goals in 166 La Liga games for the Spanish club.

Known as ‘El Guaje’, Villa moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2010 where he spearheaded the front three of Pedro – Villa – Messi, a trio that went on to win two La Liga titles and a Champions League, a final in which the Spanish striker scored in against Manchester United.

The Asturian-born striker is also widely considered one of the greatest players ever to represent the Spanish national team. In La Roja colours, Villa scored 57 goals in 97 matches for his country, making him the highest goal-scorer in the nation’s history.

Villa was a key player in Spain’s golden era of international football, playing as the main striker for Vincent del Bosque’s Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 winning squads that cemented that Spain squad as one of the greatest international teams of all time.