Aston Villa have today confirmed that Japanese international forward Mana Iwabuchi will be joining the club in January.
Reports in the Japanese media last week suggested that the player had agreed to move to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League club in 2021 and Villa have confirmed the transfer via their official club website.
The 27-year-old, who is currently the captain of the Japanese national team, recently announced that her three-year spell with Nadeshiko Division 1 club INAC Kobe Leonessa would come to an end this month. Iwabuchi will now test herself in one of the strongest leagues in world football, the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.
Iwabuchi is a three-time Nadeshiko league and cup double-winner while she also won the FLYERALARM Frauen-Bundesliga title twice during her time at former club Bayern Munich. The player was a member of the Japanese national side which won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany in 2011.
The striker was twice crowned the Asian Young Player of the Year earlier in her career while she won the Golden Ball at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in 2008.
Iwabuchi becomes new club Aston Villa’s first January transfer window addition and her arrival provides the club with a real boost going into the second half of the season.
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