As a team that ranked only sixth in the J-League and failed to qualify for the AFC Champions League, Vissel Kobe’s signing of Andrés Iniesta sent shockwaves through Asian football. According to Crickex App sources, it’s clear that money played a decisive role in bringing the Spanish legend to Japan. Interestingly, before choosing the J-League, Iniesta came very close to joining the Chinese Super League.
Both Tianjin Quanjian and Chongqing Lifan were strongly interested in signing him, engaging in a behind-the-scenes bidding war. However, due to China’s tightening financial regulations in football, Iniesta ultimately turned away from the Chinese market. While many Chinese fans expressed disappointment, some believe this might have been a blessing in disguise for the long-term development of Chinese football.
After securing Iniesta, Vissel Kobe boldly declared their ambition to become not only Japan’s top club but also a powerhouse across all of Asia. For his part, Iniesta stated that he hopes to continue improving and contribute to the growth of the J-League and Asian football as a whole.
Reports from Spanish and Japanese media revealed that in order to convince Iniesta to join, Vissel Kobe offered a record-breaking three-year contract worth €25 million per year — the highest salary ever recorded in the history of Japan’s top league. This massive deal also made Iniesta the fourth-highest-paid footballer in the world at the time, trailing only Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Alexis Sánchez.
A key figure in sealing the deal was Hiroshi Mikitani, the founder of Rakuten Inc., which owns Vissel Kobe. Mikitani played a crucial role in negotiations and personally backed the staggering salary to bring Iniesta to the J-League. The official announcement was made yesterday afternoon, confirming Iniesta’s signing and making headlines across Japan and beyond.
Notably, Iniesta’s arrival also highlights Rakuten’s broader ties to football. The company is the primary shirt sponsor for FC Barcelona, with a €60 million per year sponsorship deal running through 2021. Iniesta’s transfer, in this context, symbolizes not just a major signing for Vissel Kobe but also a strategic alignment of branding and ambition between European football giants and rising Asian clubs.