The 28-year-old six-time Japanese top flight winner arrives in England following an illustrious spell in her home country, most recently at INAC Kobe Leonessa.
The goalkeeper has earned 74 senior international caps and has won 17 major honours during her career so far.
Yamashita said: “First of all, it is a great honour to join such a wonderful club and team. I feel very honoured to be here.
“Because of my personality, I am very hungry. I’ve won various trophies in Asia, but to level up myself, I felt the need to take on a challenge. It’s a famous club that everyone knows, and even now, it feels unbelievable to me.
“During my time at Beleza, I used to play 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 join a team with Ederson, whom I admire, and to wear the same shirt. I’m really looking forward to it.
“Last season was really close, I thought that while watching the games from Japan. I want to support the team in winning titles and contribute to the team.”
Yamashita will wear the number 31 shirt and becomes the first women’s player to wear the number since City’s professional relaunch in 2014.
Manchester City Women 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 has been a pleasure watching her on the world stage during her second Olympics these last few weeks, and as we continue to evolve, having a player with attributes like Ayaka’s will help us challenge for honours for years to come.
“Ayaka will bring a fresh dynamic and even more experience to the team.”
Head Coach Gareth Taylor added: “We’re delighted to bring Ayaka to Manchester City.
“She is another player who will bring even more international experience into the squad and we’re looking forward to welcoming her to the team.”
Experienced winner
Ayaka Yamashita arrives at the Joie Stadium with a hugely impressive CV in tow.
The goalkeeper is a six-time Japanese top flight winner with a further eight domestic cups to add into the mix.
When you add up her international honours as well, then the 28-year-old boasts a remarkable 17 medals across her career to date.
To add to that, she’s figured in the Japanese top flight’s Team of the Season in seven of the last nine years and was even picked up the Player of the Season prize in 2021/22.
In short, Yamashita is a serial winner, and someone who will add important experience into an exciting young side looking to adapt to life without key senior figures such as Steph Houghton and Demi Stokes.
An international team-mate of Yui Hasegawa’s, the stopper was part of the Japan squad at this summer’s Olympics and who turned plenty of heads at the World Cup last summer.
While they were ultimately knocked out in the quarter-finals in Australia back in 2023, Japan’s free-flowing attacking football, plus a 4-0 win over eventual winners Spain in the group stages, grabbed the attention of many viewers around the world.
What does go under the radar, though, is that Futoshi Ikeda’s side didn’t concede a single goal leading into the knockout stages.
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Yamashita was central to that, but really showed her quality in their Round of 16 triumph over Norway when she produced a remarkable save to deny Karina Saevik’s goalbound header and prevent a nervy finish in Wellington.
But at a Club like City where such a heavy emphasis is placed on a goalkeeper’s technical ability, the Japan international once again stands out.
One of the 28-year-old’s greatest assets is her composure on the ball, a quality which seemingly makes her perfectly suited to Gareth Taylor’s side.
Competing with Khiara Keating and Eve Annets for the number one spot while Sandy MacIver recovers from her anterior cruciate ligament injury, Yamashita’s ability on the pitch and winners’ mentality off it could prove an incredibly shrewd bit of business.
Honours:
Tokyo Verdy Beleza [2014-2020]
Nadeshiko League: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Empress’ Cup: 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Nadeshiko League Cup: 2016, 2018, 2019
AFC Women’s Club Championship: 2019
INAC Kobe Leonessa [2021-2024]
WE League: 2021–22
Japan [2015-present]
AFC Asian Cup: 2018
Asian Games: 2018
Individual
Nadeshiko League Best Eleven: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
WE League Most Valuable Player: 2021/22
WE League Best Eleven: 2021/22, 2022/23
WE League Outstanding Players Award: 2021/22, 2022/23
