Former FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Mana Iwabuchi is being linked with a move to Aston Villa according to press reports in Japan.
The Japan Times have this morning indicated that the forward, who recently announced her departure from Nadeshiko League Division 1 side INAC Kobe Leonessa, will join Barclays FA Women’s Super League debutants Aston Villa in a deal which could be announced as early as next week.
Iwabuchi has made 72 senior appearances for Japan while she has scored 29 goals for her country. The player has been involved with her national team as recently as October with Iwabuchi having attended a Japanese international training camp. The 27-year-old won the FIFA Women’s World Cup with Japan in 2011 while she has previously won back-to-back Asian Young Footballer of the Year awards. The attacker has won the Golden Boot in three international tournaments while she was awarded the Golden Ball at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup back in New Zealand in 2008.
At club level, Iwabuchi won back-to-back Frauen-Bundesliga titles with former club Bayern Munich while she lifted eight trophies including three league titles with her first club, Nippon TV Beleza, across a five-year spell.
Should the press reports in Japan prove accurate, it is understood that Iwabuchi will continue to represent INAC Kobe Leonessa for the remainder of this month before moving to Aston Villa on a free transfer.