Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back Liam Williams has left Cardiff to join Kubota Spears in Japan.
The 32-year-old was only halfway through a two-year deal at the Arms Park.
But Cardiff were keen to offload one of their highest earners from the wage bill as the club faces a £2m budget cut for next season.
“I’m delighted to sign with Kubota Spears for next season,” Williams said on the club’s social media channels.
“I have fond memories of playing in Japan in the 2019 World Cup. I will never forget how welcoming everybody was.
“I’m excited for a new experience with my wife Sophie and we are looking forward to the future.
“I have made some incredible memories in Welsh rugby and must thank Cardiff and the WRU (Welsh Rugby Union) for their understanding in what has been a difficult few months, and I’m hopeful that we can make more incredible memories at this (2023) World Cup.”
Having been capped 84 times by Wales, Williams remains eligible for the national side and is expected to be part of their World Cup plans.
He is set to join Kubota Spears after the World Cup, should he be selected for a third successive finals.
The move was understood to be dependent on passing a strict medical examination because of his long history of injuries.
Williams joined Cardiff from Scarlets before the 2022-23 campaign, but made just four appearances in his first season because of a series of injuries.
He is the latest international to leave Welsh regional rugby.
Fellow Test players Joe Hawkins (Exeter), Cory Hill (Japan), Rhys Webb (Biarritz), Tom Francis (Provence), Ross Moriarty (Brive), Will Rowlands (Racing 92) and Dillon Lewis (Harlequins) will all move abroad next season, while Scott Baldwin has retired from playing to coach at Newcastle.
Six Nations team-mates Leigh Halfpenny, Gareth Anscombe and Rhys Patchell also face uncertain futures having been released by their regional sides.
Cardiff’s annual budget is set to be cut by £2m – from £7.2m to £5.2m – next season, reducing to £4.5m for the 2024-25 campaign for each of the four leading Welsh teams.
Williams is the 17th player to leave Arms Park this summer, while uncertainty still surrounds the future of head coach Dai Young, who was suspended pending an investigation into complaints over his behaviour towards club employees.
A new six-year deal between the WRU and the teams was signed in March.
But the deal – a new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) that will run until 2029 – required a number of organisations to give their approval, including the Welsh government.
The contract required Welsh government consent because of a current loan agreement it holds with the WRU and regions but clubs have complained of cashflow problems caused by delays in the funding delivery – which WRU acting chief executive Nigel Walker has said is imminent.
