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Kazuyoshi Miura, set to turn 59 next month and is the world's oldest professional footballer, has signed a temporary transfer until June with J3 League club Fukushima United.

The transfer means Miura might feature in the Japanese professional league - encompassing the highest tiers of football in Japan - for the first time in five years.

The ex-international forward, who started his career with the Brazilian club Santos in 1986, did not find the net in 69 minutes across seven outings last season while on loan at JFL side Atletico Suzuka.

"My passion for football remains undimmed, no matter how old I get," he said as he prepares for a 41st season as a pro footballer.

"I'm very grateful 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 Australia, Italy, and Croatia, 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, shortly following his surprising exclusion 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 "embrace a fresh test" after being relegated last season to Japan's regional leagues.

Fukushima ended the season in tenth place in the twenty-club third division last season.