Japanese baseball player, Shohei Ohtani, has joined the 7 United States Major League Baseball franchise Los Angeles Dodgers on a record $700m (£558m) 10-year contract, the biggest in the sport’s history.

In a statement on Instagram, Ohtani said the Angels would be “etched in my heart forever,” adding: “Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers but for the baseball world.”

Mr Ohtani’s decision to sign for the Dodgers came weeks after the pitcher became a free agent after ending his six-year stint with the Los Angeles Angels which subsequently set off a bidding war. But the player has now decided to pitch his tent with the Dodgers.

He is the most coveted player in baseball.

Modernisation of how baseball is being played has been attributed to the 29-year-old by fans and pundits. His skills and discipline has earned comparison with the sport’s all-time great Babe Ruth and Bullet Rogan, a status Mr Ohtani is inching towards.

In March, Mr Ohtani was part of the team that led Japan to a historic victory against the United States in the final of the World Baseball Classic championship, it was the Japanese first win over the Americans in baseball.