MANCHESTER-Ayaka Yamashita, a goalkeeper for Japan, joined Manchester City this summer as the third Japanese player to do so. The English Women’s Super League team revealed Yamashita’s signing from WE League powerhouse INAC Kobe Leonessa on Friday.
What impact will Ayaka Yamashita have on City’s defense?
Yamashita joined City during the summer, following 20-year-old former Tokyo Verdy Beleza forward Aoba Fujino and right-back Risa Shimizu, who was a free agent after leaving West Ham. Yui Hasegawa, a midfielder for Chelsea, plays for City, which lost to Chelsea in the previous season due to goal differential. “Joining a team and club this amazing is truly an honor. On the official website of her new club, Yamashita expressed her gratitude for being here. I had the urge to accept a challenge. It’s a well-known club that everybody knows about, yet it still seems surreal.” Since making her Nadeshiko Japan debut in 2018, Yamashita, 28, has been without a doubt the best. She has competed in two Olympics and two World Cups, including the current competition in France, where Japan was eliminated in the semifinals. Ayaka Yamashita, a goalkeeper, is the fourth player in Gareth Taylor’s team and the third addition to Manchester City’s group of Japan internationals this summer. On a three-year contract, the 28-year-old joins the Japanese team INAC Kobe Leonessa, the runners-up in the Women Super League. This summer, West Ham and Tokyo Verdy Beleza signed Yamashita’s international colleagues Risa Shimizu and Aoba Fujino, respectively, and in September 2022, Yui Hasegawa, a midfielder, joined City from West Ham.
Why did Manchester City target Japanese talent this summer?
“It is truly an honor to be here,” Yamashita remarked. “I’m starving to death. I’ve won a lot of prizes in Asia, but I felt like I needed to rise to the occasion to prove myself. Everyone knows about this well-known club, and even now, I find it amazing. “Yui Hasegawa, who is currently here, and I used to play together at Beleza, so she is really encouraging.” I’m quite excited to play with her once more. With 74 caps, Yamashita is City’s seventh summer addition. The club also added 18-year-old goalkeeper Eve Annets and WSL record goalscorer Vivienne Miedema, who joined after her contract with Arsenal expired. The rivalry for Khiara Keating’s top rank from the previous season is intensified with the entry of Yamashita and Annets. “We’re excited to welcome her to the team,” Taylor stated, “as she is another player who will bring even more international experience into the squad.” Even with the loss of seven players Steph Houghton, the retiring captain; Demi Stokes, who went to Newcastle; Esme Morgan, who signed with the Washington Spirit; and goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, who went to Barcelona City have remained strong.
How does Ayaka Yamashita fit into the City women’s squad?
According to englishkoyodonews, Manchester United has declared Simi Awujo, a Canadian, a new addition. The 20-year-old midfielder, pending registration, has signed a three-year contract with the team after leaving the University of Southern California, according to reports from the Guardian. Awujo, who has 19 caps, was a member of the Canadian team that advanced to the 2024 Olympics quarterfinals. This campaign was controversial since it was discovered that staff members had been using a drone to snoop on a training session in New Zealand. Awujo was called an “exciting young talent” by Manchester United’s manager, Marc Skinner, and he responded, saying, “To say that I’m a professional footballer for Manchester United is insane.” I can’t wait. As per theguardian, Chasity Grant, a 23-year-old winger from the Netherlands, has joined Aston Villa. Grant, who spent four years at Ajax, made her debut on the international scene in February 2022. She now signs a three-year contract. “She can play on both sides and as a striker or wing-back,” stated Robert de Pauw, the new manager of Aston Villa. Her style of play makes her a player that I think will fit in well in the WSL. Paula Tomás, who was brought in from Levante, Katie Robinson, who came from Brighton, Jill Baijings, who was on loan from Bayern Munich, and Sabrina D’Angelo, who was traded for Daphne van Domselaar and Arsenal, are the other seven summer additions to Villa. Grant is the seventh of these players.
What are the expectations for Yamashita at Manchester City?
After spending the second part of the previous season on loan at Slavia Prague, Katerina Svitkova has left Chelsea. The midfielder from the Czech Republic signed with West Ham two years ago, but his injury limited his playing time.
