Juan Mata signs for Vissel Kobe after 1 year with Galatasaray

Juan Mata has signed for Japanese side Vissel Kobe as a free agent after leaving Galatasaray. His compatriot, Andres Iniesta, spent the last five years with them and moved on to Emirates in the UAE as a free agent. 

The former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder will now embark on a new journey away from Europe with his move to Japan. The culture of the country has played an important part in him deciding to sign for them, at a time when some of the most prominent names in the game are moving to Saudi Arabia. 

Juan Mata signs for Vissel Kobe in Japan 

After coming through the Real Madrid Castilla academy, Mata moved to Valencia and eventually signed for Chelsea in 2011. The Spaniard won the 2012 Champions League with the Blues and then moved to Manchester United in 2014 where he spent eight years before leaving in 2022. 

Juan Mata only spent a year with Galatasaray, making 16 short appearances but scoring three goals and providing one assist. The Spaniard is now signed to Vissel Kobe with a contract of undisclosed length. 

The 35-year-old has had an illustrious career in Europe, and leaves as a rather underrated veteran of the sport. It will be interesting to see how the 2010 World Cup winner’s time in Japan plays out, considering Iniesta had a decent run after leaving Spain.