Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa has become the latest player to join Juan Mata's Common Goal initiative.

The 28-year-old, a teammate of Mata's at Manchester United in 2014, is the 18th footballer to pledge at least 1% of his wage to charity.

Kagawa joins the likes of Mats Hummels, Giorgio Chiellini, Charlie Daniels and Alfie Mawson in signing up to the initiative, which was started by Mata at the start of the season.

The Japan international is quoted by ESPN as saying: "Football has given me so many opportunities in life and now I want to play my role in supporting others through the game.

"Common Goal is quickly growing around the world and I'm proud to help lead the movement forward in Japan.

"I've been fortunate enough to have football lead me all over the world – Japan, England, South Africa, Brazil and of course Germany, to name just a few countries.

"If there's one constant I've witnessed throughout the journey it has to be passion. Football inspires and excites people like nothing else on the planet, and what I love about Common Goal is that it channels this passion in a way that makes a real difference to disadvantaged communities around the world."

Mata added: "Shinji knows a thing or two about being first. He was the first player from Japan to play at Manchester United and then the first to win the Premier League.

"So I think it's fitting that he's now the first to join Common Goal as well. I know first-hand that Shinji is a special footballer and a brilliant person. It's a great pleasure for me to welcome him to the team."

The Common Goal fund is run by the Berlin-based organisation streetfootballworld, which invests in more than 120 football-based charities in 80 countries.