Barcelona terminate midfielder Sergi Samper's contract after 18 years at the club... and Spaniard is set to sign four-year contract to join Andres Iniesta and David Villa at Vissel Kobe in Japan Barcelona have terminated the contract of Spanish midfielder Sergi Samper The 24-year-old has managed just 13 first team appearances for the club He suffered awful luck with injuries and was sent out on loan for two spells Samper has been linked with a move to join Andres Iniesta at Vissel KobeBy Max Winters For Mailonline Published: 11:54 GMT, 4 March 2019 | Updated: 12:16 GMT, 4 March 2019 Viewcomments Barcelona have terminated the contract of midfielder Sergi Samper after 18 years at the club and he is now set to join Andres Iniesta and David Villa at Vissel Kobe in Japan. The 24-year-old has managed just 13 first team appearances for the Spanish giants after a series of loan moves and injuries have halted his progress. He joined the club at the age of six after a successful trial but after a frustrating career the club have opted to cut their losses and cancel his contract. Barcelona have terminated the contract of midfielder Sergi Samper after 18 years at the club Samper made his senior Barcelona debut during the 2014-15 campaign in a Champions League victory against APOEL at the Nou Camp. He won one La Liga title, one Champions League, a Copa del Rey, a World Club Cup and a Spanish Super Cup. In 2016-17, Samper played 23 games on loan at Granada and the season after played five times for Las Palmas on loan before a serious injury forced him to return to Barcelona in the middle of the season. This season the midfielder was part of the first team squad wearing number 16 but made just one appearance in the Copa del Rey and will now leave his boyhood club. Samper (R) made just 13 appearances for the club after a series of injuries and two loan moves Samper could join Vissel Kobe and play with Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Lukas Podolski A statement read: 'The club publicly would like to thank Sergi Samper for his dedication and commitment during his time at Barcelona and wishes him all the best for the future.' According to Spanish outlet Marca, Vissel Kobe have immediately offered him an escape route with Samper poised to join former team-mates Iniesta and Villa in Japan. They currently sit ninth in the J-League and also boast former Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski in their ranks. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility