Maika Hamano

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Maika Hamano
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-05-09) 9 May 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Takaishi, Osaka, Japan
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Chelsea
Number 23
Youth career
Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies 37 (14)
2021–2022 INAC Kobe Leonessa 20 (3)
2023– Chelsea 5 (1)
2023Hammarby IF (loan) 17 (7)
International career
2022 Japan U20 6 (4)
2022– Japan 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 April 2024

Maika Hamano (浜野 まいか, Hamano Maika, born 9 May 2004) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chelsea and the Japan national team.

Club career[edit]

Hamano made her WE League debut for INAC Kobe Leonessa on 12 September 2021 in a 5–0 victory over Omiya Ardija Ventus.[2]

On 13 January 2023, Hamano signed for Chelsea and was immediately loaned to Swedish side Hammarby IF.[3][4] There, she made 17 league appearances and scored 7 goals during the 2023 Damallsvenskan season,[1] before being recalled in September after sustaining a shoulder injury.[5]

After recovering from injury, Hamano made her Women's Super League debut for Chelsea on 17 December 2023 in a 3–0 away win over Bristol City, replacing Lauren James in the second half.[6]

International career[edit]

In July 2022, Hamano was included in the Japan under-20 team for the 2022 U-20 World Cup,[7] where they finished as runners-up after losing to Spain in the final. She won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, and the Silver Boot as the second-best goalscorer behind Inma Gabarro.[8]

Hamano made her senior team debut on 6 October 2022, when she came on as a substitute for Mina Tanaka in the 69th minute of a 2–0 friendly win over Nigeria.[9][10] On 13 June 2023, she was included in Japan's 23-player squad for the 2023 World Cup.[11]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of 5 May 2024[1][12][13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cerezo Osaka Sakai 2018 Nadeshiko League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2019 Nadeshiko League 2 4 3 2 0 4 1 10 4
2020 Nadeshiko League 18 6 3 2 21 8
2021 Nadeshiko League 14 5 14 5
Total 37 14 5 2 4 1 46 17
INAC Kobe Leonessa 2021–22 WE League 16 2 1 1 17 3
2022–23 WE League 4 1 1 1 2 0 7 2
Total 20 3 2 2 2 0 24 5
Chelsea 2022–23 Women's Super League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Women's Super League 5 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 7 1
Total 5 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 7 1
Hammarby IF (loan) 2023 Damallsvenskan 17 7 5 4 22 11
Career total 79 25 13 8 7 1 0 0 99 34

International[edit]

As of match played 9 April 2024[14]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2022 1 0
2023 5 0
2024 2 0
Total 8 0

Honours[edit]

INAC Kobe Leonessa

Hammarby IF

Chelsea

Japan U16

Individual

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Japan | M. Hamano | Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Scoresheet – Inac Kobe Leonessa 5:0 Omiya Ardija Ventus" (PDF). WE League. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Maika Hamano is a Blue!". Chelsea F.C. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Hammarby transfer news: Hammarby lånar Maika Hamano från Chelsea". Hammarby Fotboll (in Swedish). Retrieved 14 January 2023.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Statement on Maika Hamano injury". Chelsea F.C. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  6. ^ Millington, Adam (17 December 2023). "Bristol City 0–3 Chelsea: Blues three points clear before winter break". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  7. ^ "U-20 Japan Women's National Team squad | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022 (8/7-28@Costa Rica)". Japan Football Association. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Maika Hamano: Chelsea & Japan's Lionel Messi-inspired teen star set to shine at the 2023 Women's World Cup". Goal. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Hamano Maika | National Teams". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Japan vs. Nigeria". Soccerway. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Women's World Cup 2023: Mana Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  12. ^ "セレッソ大阪堺ガールズ". Nadeshiko League. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  13. ^ "2021/22シーズン全日程". INAC Kobe Leonessa (in Japanese). Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  14. ^ "FW 浜野 まいか (Hamano Maika) | なでしこジャパン" (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Inac Kobe Leonessa crowned champions of 2021–22 Yogibo WE LEAGUE. "Performance befitting for the first WE League Champions"". WE League. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  16. ^ "AFC President praises Japan for extending U-16 Women's record". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Nishio awarded Most Valuable Player, Hamano Top Scorer". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Hamano, Gabarro grab golden honours". FIFA. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  19. ^ "AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women) 2022: Maika Hamano". Asian Football Confederation. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.