Villa to join Iniesta at Vissel Kobe

The former Barça striker David ‘El Guaje’ Villa, who has been playing for the MLS’s New York City FC in recent seasons, has announced he will be joining former blaugrana teammate Andrés Iniesta at Japan’s Vissel Kobe, where Iniesta signed at the end of last season.

Villa scored 80 goals in 125 appearances at NYCFC in the United States, which he joined after stints of varying length at Sporting, Zaragoza, Valencia, FC Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid in Spain, as well as Melbourne City in Australia, where he played briefly on loan while awaiting his MLS debut.

Villa is currently the Spanish national team’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 59 strikes.

The Gijón, Spain native joined Barça ahead of the 2010-11 season and went on to make 199 appearances and score 48 goals, including one in the 2011 Champions League final, in which Barça claimed the title with a 3-1 win over Manchester United. Here is Villa’s full list of honors from his three seasons at the Camp Nou:

• 2x La Liga: 2010–11, 2012–13
• 1x Copa del Rey: 2011–12
• 2x Spanish Super Cup: 2010, 2011
• 1x UEFA Champions League: 2010–11
• 1x UEFA Super Cup: 2011
• 1x FIFA Club World Cup: 2011

Villa–Iniesta stats

The two superstars had an excellent connection on the pitch while playing together, no doubt one of the main keys to Barça’s dominance over that span. Here are some of the numbers behind the Spanish duo:

• 60 Barça games together in La Liga
• 63 games together with the Spain national team
• Barça’s La Liga record with both on the field: 50 wins, 8 draws, 2 losses