Former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has ended speculation about his future by confirming he will join Sagan Tosu in Japan next season.

The Spaniard had been linked with moves to both the US and Australia, but at a press conference on Tuesday morning he revealed he will instead head to Asia.

Torres confirmed that he had received plenty of offers from around the world, but opted to join good friend Andres Iniesta in Japan.

Fernando Torres holds up a Sagan Tosu scarf after confirming his team for next season

Torres poses with his shirt, and hopes to make his debut at the end of July in the J1 League

'I had offers from France, Germany, other clubs in Spain,' he said, 'but I did not want to join another European club, as I had the best end possible here with my team (Atletico).

'I will have a good friend in the league too with Andres. It is an exciting challenge for both of us.'

Iniesta and Lukas Podolski both ply their trade with Vissel Kobe, and Sagan Tosu will come up against them in the J1 League next season.

Torres finished his second spell at Atletico Madrid last season, playing 45 times in all competitions for his boyhood club.

Torres ended his second spell at Atletico Madrid by winning the Europa League in May

After spells at Liverpool (pictured), Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and others, he has moved to Asia

At the age of 34, the ex-Anfield hero has decided on a change of pace and heads to a team which finished eighth in the J1 League last season.

'I am joining up next week and hoping to start as soon as possible with my new team-mates, playing games and scoring goals,' Torres continued.

'I hope to make my debut, at home, on July 21. I hope to be there for many years. It will depend on my sporting performance.'

The move had been teased at the end of May when the Japanese side accidentally posted an article on their website confirming Torres' arrival.

After deleting the news, J League officials were quick to apologise for the error.

'Although the signing is not closed, we had prepared a draft due to its likelihood,' read a statement.

Torres holds the Golden Boot aloft after winning it in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil

Just over a month on from that, the news has now been officially confirmed by the club, with Torres posing for pictures alongside an official while holding a scarf.

The scarf mostly contains Japanese words, but there is one sentence of English which reads: 'It's not a misinformation, is it!?,' in reference to the team previously jumping the gun with their announcement.

Torres will be one of two non-Asian players in the squad, joining Colombian Victor Ibarbo, once of Watford and Roma.

The majority of the other squad members are Japanese nationals, while there is an Italian manager in Massimo Ficcadenti.