Aston Villa and Japan's Vissel Kobe have announced a strategic partnership.

The J1 League side, who currently sit top of the division, join the growing V Sports global network of clubs alongside ZED FC and Vitória Sport Clube from Egypt and Portugal respectively.

Villa state "Villa and Vissel Kobe will work to create a bilateral development framework for players and staff which will enhance youth development, alongside the cooperative sharing of ideas, techniques and best practice.

"The partnership will look to further open up pathways for talented Japanese players to play in Europe and, ultimately, at Aston Villa."

A senior delegation from Kobe will be visiting Birmingham at the end of the month to mark the start of the partnership and two of Vissel Kobe's talented U16 players will also train with the Villa Academy for the duration of the visit.