Ex-Arsenal star completes J-League switch

Former Arsenal and Celtic midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has joined Japanese side Shimizu S-Pulse reports The Sun.

The 34-year-old Swede, joins a growing list of high-profile players to try their luck in the J-League, following the likes of Zico, Gary Linekar and Dragan Stojkovic.

Ljungberg moved to Parkhead last December, but only made seven appearances for Neil Lennon's Bhoys, before leaving Celtic Park at the end of last season.

With a fresh start in the Far East, the midfielder has told team-mates he is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead, having moved to Japan with a big reputation.


 

"His power and movement is incredible," said Shimizu keeper Kaito Yamamoto after a recent training session with Ljungberg. "His motion is always the same but he puts all sorts of movement on the ball.

"He's not at 100 per cent yet but he is going to give goalkeepers a lot of trouble."

Ljungberg is best remembered for his time with Arsenal - as part of Arsene Wenger's famous 'Invincibles' side, which went undefeated throughout the entire 2003-04 campaign when the Gunners last won the Barclays Premier League title.

In the summer of 2007, after nine years in north London, Ljungberg left the Emirates Stadium in favour of a move to West Ham, prior to a spell playing in the MLS with Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire.