Vissel Kobe midfielder Takahito Soma will retire at the end of this season, the club announced on Thursday.

The 34-year-old joined Tokyo Verdy in 2003 following his graduation from Kokushikan University and was a key part of their 2004 Emperor’s Cup-winning campaign.

He moved on to Urawa Reds in 2006, helping them to win that year’s J.League Division 1, Emperor’s Cup, and the 2007 AFC Champions League. 

Soma played for Portugal’s Maritimo and Germany’s Energie Cottbus before joining Vissel Kobe in 2011.

“We weren’t able to win a title but it’s been wonderful to help the team improve to its best-ever finish in my last season,” Soma said. 

“I’m grateful to my coaches, team-mates, club staff, and supporters for giving me the chance to play at Vissel Kobe for five and a half seasons.”