Why the biggest clubs in England are adding Nadeshiko players to their rosters.

The number of Asian players playing in the English Premier League has more than doubled, representing Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and other teams.

In the 12-year history of the Women's Super League, there has only ever been eight Japanese players prior to the start of the 2023–24 season. In less than two years, that number has more than doubled, and the only nations outside of the UK having more WSL players than the Asian country at the moment are Australia, Sweden, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Every week, these players also take center stage. Last Friday, Liverpool surprised Manchester United at Anfield thanks to goals and assists from Fuka Nagano. Aoba Fujino equalized Manchester City in the League Cup final the next day by launching a shot past Chelsea's Hannah Hampton. Then, in an all-English Champions League quarterfinal repeat of that match on Wednesday, Yui Hasegawa's incredible poise was crucial in the move that gave Vivianne Miedema the opportunity to double City's first-leg lead.

Initially, Japanese athletes only briefly left their homeland to play a few games in England, the United States, or other countries before, for the most part, going back to finish their careers. The WSL, other leagues across the world, and, most importantly, the national team itself have all benefited from the significant development that has occurred in recent years.

Developed country

The fast rise in the women's game in the country is not the reason for the eruption of Japanese players in England and other countries. Nadeshiko was one of the world's top national teams, especially from 2008 to 2015. Under Norio Sasaki's leadership, Japan won the 2011 Women's World Cup, took home a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, won the first Asian Cup in 2014, advanced to the 2015 World Cup final, and placed fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games. They were competing against and defeating the world's top teams from the United States to Germany.

Japan has always had a strong system that has produced excellent players beneath the top squad. Indeed, they've reached the last three Under-20 Women's World Cup finals, winning in 2018, and triumphed in the U17 competition in 2014, before reaching the final again two years later.

More travels abroad

Nonetheless, the majority of players continued to play in Japan during the Sasaki years. Not a single person on his roster was based overseas for the 2008 Olympics. That had somewhat changed by 2015, but there were still only six. It was at nine at the 2023 Women's World Cup, which is Japan's most notable competition since then because of a run to the quarterfinals and an incredible 4-0 loss to eventual winners Spain in the group stage. Eight players on that squad, nevertheless, have since relocated to clubs in the US and Europe.

It's a welcome development for national team captain Saki Kumagai, a five-time European champion with Lyon. She laughed and said, "Finally," speaking to GOAL. "We can have an experience here in Europe that... Naturally, there are both positive and negative experiences to be had while in Japan, but we are unable to obtain it.

Motivated to get better

Kumagai was one of the three athletes listed on the Olympic roster for 2012 who was competing overseas, at Frankfurt at the time. She acknowledges that leaving home at the age of 20 and relocating to a nation with a vastly different language was challenging. However, she was aware that Europe was the best area to advance.

Those who decide to leave Japan today still face many of her greatest challenges. Why, therefore, does she believe that gamers are suddenly doing so more frequently? "Of course, we are not against Japanese players when we wear the national team jersey, but we are always against foreigners, so they want to, I think, grow up and they also realized it's important to play against or with foreigners every day at a high level, good players," she said. "I believe that's the reason."

Similar opinions are held by Yuka Momiki, who joined Leicester City in January of last year after spending time in Sweden and the United States. "I believe it's because we want to win, like the Olympics and World Cup," she remarked. While playing in Japan is thrilling, it's not as physical as it is in England. Yes, we may be technological rather than physical. Therefore, you need to be more physically active if you want to get better. We come here to push ourselves and offer all of these things to the national team because of this.

Lots of high-quality

Therefore, there is a growing desire among Japanese players to take on these challenges, and major clubs in the U.S., Europe, and England are also interested in signing them. It should come as no surprise that certain players made significant moves following the 2023 World Cup. Riko Ueki, who scored the second goal versus Spain, joined West Ham, while Hinata Miyazawa, the Golden Boot winner, moved to Manchester United. However, teams haven't just forgotten about that market over the years.

Ayaka Yamashita, a Japanese goalkeeper, and Aoba Fujino, a dynamic winger who dominated the 2024 Olympics with a spectacular goal against Spain, were acquired by Manchester City last summer. In January, they added Aemu Oyama, a standout player for the young national teams, and Risa Shimizu, a right-back who was previously in England with West Ham. Thirty percent of all Japanese players to ever play in the WSL are currently part of City's squad, with Hasegawa already a lynchpin in midfield.

Shortly after these changes were made, City's head coach at the time, Gareth Taylor, remarked, "We mainly look at the profile of what we need and we found that these players really fitted our model." "They have truly been accepted into the team and have quickly adapted to the system and our working style."

Even though there are many distinctions, City's highly technical and possession-based style of play shares many characteristics with the national teams of Japan. The same is true for other European clubs, as this style of play begins to spread practically everywhere.

Shortly after acquiring Honoka Hayashi, Everton manager Brian Sorensen declared, "[These players] fit in super well with the way that we want to play." "I have been observing that market for a considerable amount of time."

Bringing something 'extra'

According to Kumagai, Japanese players may also truly create an impact with their distinct style. She paused to find the correct word in one of the four languages she had learned since coming to Europe, then added, "I think Japanese players are a little bit." "I'm not sure how to describe it, but a little bit 'extra,'" she added.

"I believe that a lot of teams want to acquire Japanese players because of our playing style, which differs greatly from that of European or American players. If we can fit in with the team, we might be able to do a lot for them as well."

Well done, Nadeshiko

Since many of these talented homegrown players make their debut in the domestic league before being signed by foreign clubs, every transfer window seems to be a setback for Japan's WE League, which recently changed its name and became the country's first fully-professional women's division.

The WE League is still a vital venue for the top players from the youth teams to gain senior playing time, even though it has to keep expanding. If they are able to make large transfers, they will only get better as players in various nations with various styles. That is significant for a national squad that is making a comeback, about 14 years after its historic World Cup victory.

When Nadeshiko players gather on camp, would they be able to observe the impact these moves are having? "I believe so," Momiki said. In fact, Japan's victory over the United States in last month's SheBelieves Cup can only bode well for the team's future growth.

Among the greatest in the world

As a bright 20-year-old, Kumagai had to follow in the footsteps of Yuki Nagasato and Kozue Ando when she first arrived in Germany. Both of them shared their experiences there with her while she pursued her own ambition to play overseas. In the years since, the captain of Japan has taught younger people this skill. She clarified, "I told them a lot of things if that player wants to go." "But I think it's impossible and more difficult if they don't want to go."

Thankfully, an increasing number do. Just three players were based in the WE League when Japan's new national team coach, Nils Nielsen, announced his selection for the SheBelieves Cup in February. Eleven of the twenty names on the list were playing in England. After considering how that number had increased, Kumagai remarked, "I'm so happy now."

Players who consider leaving Japan in the future will have more than just Kumagai and a few others to consult; they will have access to hundreds of instances of Nadeshiko stars who are successful overseas who can offer guidance, as well as perhaps some teammates on the team they are joining.

Furthermore, these players are doing more than simply adapting to a new setting, picking up a new language, and adopting a different culture. They are flourishing, as demonstrated by Hasegawa's development into a top-tier midfield player, Maika Hamano's game-winning efforts for English champion Chelsea, and Kiko Seike's fantastic start to the season at Brighton.

Naturally, this isn't limited to England, but the fact that so many people are selecting the WSL as a top destination to export their skills also speaks to the league's development into one of the best in the world. Ultimately, the top players want to play in the top leagues, and Japan has plenty of them.