Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Manchester United - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 22, 2022 Manchester United's Juan Mata acknowledges fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/File photo
(Reuters) - Former Spain midfielder Juan Mata has left recently crowned Japanese champions Vissel Kobe following the expiration of his contract, the club announced on Saturday.
Mata signed a four-month deal midway through the season and was part of the Kobe squad that won the J.League title for the first time, making a solitary appearance.
"I am very happy to have been part of the club's historic moment in winning the league for the first time," Mata said in a statement. "I will never forget the memories we made together."
The 35-year-old, a World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 before spending eight seasons with Manchester United.
He then played for a season at Galatasaray in Turkey prior to signing with Kobe as a free agent in September.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Ken Ferris)
