AYAKA YAMASHITA is eager to make his trophy-winning mark at Manchester City after sealing a three-year move to the WSL giants.
And the goalkeeper is happy to be City’s first professional player to have the same shirt number as the club’s defender, Ederson.
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Today, the Cityzens revealed Yamashita, who began his senior career with Japanese side Tokyo Beleza, as their newest signing in this summer’s transfer window.
The deal for the goalkeeper, who has won six top-flight titles in her country, runs until the summer of 2027.
Last year, she was named the best player in the Japan Women’s Football League.
This summer, Man City, who hope to end their title drought with their last victory in 2016, have increased their attacking and midfield options.
Former Arsenal ace Vivianne Miedema and Japanese striker Aoba Fujino are among the stars to have joined the squad ahead of the WSL’s return in September.
Yamashita’s move from Japanese team INAC Kobe Leonessa sees her reunited at club level with her friend and City midfielder Yui Hasegawa.
The goalkeeper, who was part of the Japanese team defeated 1-0 by Emma Hayes’ North American team in the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics, will wear the number 31 shirt.
Like Ederson, who won 17 major trophies with City, including six Prem titles, while wearing that number, Yamashita expects to win big.
The City goalkeeper said: “During my time at Beleza I played with Yui Hasegawa, who is here now, so she is very encouraging.
“I’m really looking forward to playing with her again.
“It’s also exciting to be part of Ederson’s team, which I admire, and wear the same shirt.
“Last season was very competitive, I thought that while watching the games in Japan.
“I want to support the team in winning titles and contribute to the team.
“Because of my personality, I’m very hungry.
“I won several trophies in Asia, but to raise my level I felt the need to face a challenge.
“This is a famous club that everyone knows and even now it seems unbelievable to me.”
Man City women’s managing director Charlotte O’Neill said: “Ayaka is an impressive goalkeeper and serial winner, with an even more impressive number of domestic trophies to her name.
“It was a pleasure to see her on the world stage during her second Olympics in recent weeks.
“As we continue to evolve, having a player with attributes like Ayaka’s will help us fight for honors in the years to come.”
Yamashita’s move comes three months after City were beaten by Chelsea to last season’s title on goal difference, in Hayes’ final season in charge of the Blues.
Under Taylor, the Manchester giants took the battles for WSL supremacy to the limit last season and in 2021.
Having won the FA and League Cups under his watch, the team are eager to end their wait to win the title for the first time since 2016.
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Yamashita joining the ranks will see the highly-rated Khiara Keating face competition for a starting place in Taylor’s side.
The young Lioness has established herself as City’s number one between the sticks, having impressed for the team last season
Last season, Keating won the WSL Golden Glove award by keeping nine clean sheets in 22 appearances.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
