World's oldest footballer signs new deal

The world’s oldest footballer has signed a new one-year contract with a new club, which will be his 37th season as a professional player.

Japanese star Kazuyoshi Miura, who is 54 years old, has signed a deal with Suzuka Point Getters, a fourth-tier side managed by his brother, as he joins from on loan from second-tier outfit Yokohama FC. 

Commenting on the news, the veteran said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to play here and will do my best to contribute to the club on the pitch.”

Last season, Miura was relegated from the Japanese topflight with Yokohama, as he only featured in one match during that campaign, but his single showing was enough to make him the oldest active professional footballer in the world. 

Scroll through the gallery below to see the 10 oldest players in history, according to Oldest.org

The experienced forward made his debut back in 1986 and has gone on to play in various continents around the world, with stints at the likes of Santos, Genoa, Dinamo Zagreb, Sydney FC, and Palmeiras among others. 

Miura is also said to be the only player from the video game FIFA 96 to be still playing today and he also intends on playing until he is 60-years-old. 

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According to Transfermarkt, the attacker had a successful Japanese national team career, scoring 55 goals in 89 appearances since his debut for his country in 1990. 

However, he remains far from eclipsing the record for the oldest professional footballer to play in an official game, as Ezzeldin Bahader holds the Guinness World Record for playing while aged 74 and 125 days in Egypt’s third division back on 6 March 2020, per FIFA.