The former Germany forward will swap the Turkish Super Lig for the J.League after an initial fee of $3.6 million, which could rise to $3.88 million, was agreed between the teams.

Podolski, who has represented the likes of Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Inter during his career, was linked with a move during the January transfer window, but a move did not materialise.

However, Podolski - who has 129 caps for his country - will now make the switch at the end of the current campaign.

  I can confirm that at the end of this season I will join Vissel Kobe from the J-League in Japan. It's not a decision against Galatasaray, it's a decision I made for a new challenge, and I will explain more when the time is right. But right now my only focus is helping Galatasaray and our fantastic fans! 👍🏻🦁👊🏻 #Cimbom #Gala #Poldi A post shared by Lukas Podolski (@poldi_official) on Mar 2, 2017 at 1:17am PST

"I can confirm that at the end of this season I will join Vissel Kobe from the J-League in Japan," Podolski wrote on his official Instagram account.

"It is not a decision against Galatasaray, it is a decision I made for a new challenge, and I will explain more when the time is right.

"But right now my only focus is helping Galatasaray and our fantastic fans!"

The 31-year-old joined Galatasaray from Arsenal in 2015 and won the Turkish Cup and the Supercup in his first season in Istanbul.