After spending two consecutive summers in the United States, Barcelona has announced it will visit China and Japan in 2019 to further engage with its Asian fanbase, reports SportBusiness.

According to ESPN, the LaLiga champions plan to participate in the International Champions Cup in the region, while a game against Japanese club Vissel Kobe – which is owned by Barcelona's principal partner Rakuten – has also been mooted.

"The tour will reaffirm the club's commitment to the Asian market where we have a higher concentration of fans than anywhere else in the world," Barca said in a statement.

"Football is also a fast-growing sport in countries like China and Japan, where the club is not only looking to do business, but also to seek new fans and build their loyalty."

Alongside its partnership with Rakuten, Barcelona has 11 Regional Partners and three Global Partners (Konami, Oppo and Milo) based in Asia.