KYODO NEWS - Jul 6, 2017 - 13:36 | Sports, All

German World Cup-winning striker Lukas Podolski said Thursday he is relishing the challenge of playing in the J-League and targeted qualification for the Asian Champions League with Vissel Kobe following his high-profile move to Japan.

The 32-year-old Podolski, who has signed a deal with Kobe estimated to be worth 600 million yen (around $5.3 million), also insisted there was no pressure to live up to the hype surrounding his move from Turkish giants Galatasaray following a glittering career in Europe.

"First of all, I don't feel any pressure because I have had pressure since I started playing football," Podolski told a press conference at a Kobe hotel. "In every training (session) and in every game you have pressure, it doesn't matter if you train or play in a stadium for 50,000 people."

"It is not a problem (that) it is a big challenge for me. I don't play in Europe, I play now in the J-League and Asia so it is a big move, of course, but I have a target."

"The first target is to fight for the first three places (in the J-League) to qualify for the (Asian) Champions League. I think as well it is a nice challenge for me to see other countries and play against other big teams," he said.

"I am here now to help everyone. I am not alone. I know my teammates will help me. Now we have to go train hard and fight on the pitch for 90 minutes and get three points every game."

The biggest name to arrive in the J-League since Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka 2014-2015), Podolski is set to make his debut on June 29 in Vissel's home game against Omiya Ardija.

Kobe were hammered 5-0 by Kawasaki Frontale in the J-League last weekend and are currently in 11th place in the table at the halfway stage of the season, 13 points behind leaders and reigning champions Kashima Antlers.

Kobe had hoped Podolski would leave Galatasaray early and join them in the J-League before the spring transfer window closed on March 31. But he stayed put to focus on helping Galatasaray until the end of the Turkish season.

Wearing a baseball cap emblazoned with the nickname "Poldi" in Japanese, Podolski spent around 30 minutes posing for photographs and gave autographs to some of the roughly 1,000 fans that greeted him as he arrived at Kansai airport on an early morning charter flight.

"I'm proud that so many people came to greet me. Japan is clean and everything runs efficiently so I felt good when I arrived. I am happy that so many kids came. I will be here two and a half years (and) I want to not only focus on the soccer but learn all about Japan."

Podolski, who has made 130 appearances for Germany, scoring 49 goals, played for Cologne (twice), Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Inter Milan on loan before moving to Galatasaray.

He won a league and cup double with Bayern in 2008, an FA Cup in 2014 with Arsenal and the World Cup in 2014.

Fittingly, Podolski retired from international football in March after scoring the winner in a friendly against England.