Former Spanish international and Real Madrid star Asier Illarramendi has joined local football club Kitchee and will wear the number 5 shirt.

Kitchee confirmed the signing of the 35-year-old defensive midfielder in a social media post on Wednesday.

The team's head coach Íñigo Calderón said he "cannot wait to see" llarramendi play for the club, praising his quality, experience, and leadership as valuable assets.

"He is definitely the player that we need in terms of the system and the style of play. He is going to benefit the squad in so many ways," he said.

Illarramendi spent most of his career with his youth club Real Sociedad and returned there for a second spell after his time at Real Madrid during 2013-2015.

He was also part of the Real Madrid squad that won the UEFA Champions League in 2014.

After spending his career in La Liga, Illarramendi joined Major League Soccer's FC Dallas in 2023 and played through the 2024 season.

At the international level, Illarramendi earned three caps for Spain’s senior national team.