Vissel Kobe confirms Yuya Osako's signing from Werder Bremen

Osako returns to Japan after seven-and-a-half seasons in Germany and was a member of the Japanese squad at the 2018 World Cup.

The striker joins a Kobe side who is third in the J-League standings as it attempts to qualify for next year's Asian Champions League.(File photo)

Japan international striker Yuya Osako has joined Vissel Kobe, the J-League side announced on Sunday after signing the 31-year-old forward from German club Werder Bremen.

Osako returns to Japan after seven-and-a-half seasons in Germany, where he also played for 1860 Munich and FC Koln.

He was unveiled by Kobe a day after it confirmed the capture of free agent Yoshinori Muto.

READ | Kobe confirms signing of former Newcastle striker Muto

The striker joins a Kobe side who is third in the J-League standings as it attempts to qualify for next year's Asian Champions League.

Osako has scored 23 times in 49 games for Japan and remains the first-choice centre forward for national team head coach Hajime Moriyasu.

He was a member of the Japanese squad at the 2018 World Cup when it reached the knockout rounds and was also a part of the team that finished as runners-up at the 2019 Asian Cup.