The 20-year-old forward will join up with her new City teammates at the inaugural Perth International Football Cup later this month after the Paris Olympics. She will wear the number 20 shirt.
Fujino is a two-time winner of the WE League Valuable Player Award during her three seasons with Tokyo Verdy Beleza, having also claimed the Empress Cup. She made 51 appearances, scoring 24 goals and providing 17 assists.
A breakout star at the 2023 World Cup where she became her nation’s youngest ever goalscorer in the tournament, the 20-year-old said the chance to test herself in the Barclays Women’s Super League was an attractive prospect:
“In the league, this is a top-level club both physically and technically. That is something that I find very appealing, the size of the team and the organisation. It’s very important to play in this kind of environment.”
“This is a very big club with a lot of history, so I’m really excited to come here.”
Manchester City Women Managing Director, Charlotte O’Neill, said: “Aoba is an impressive striker whose signing shows our ambition and intent to challenge for silverware if you play for City. She will be a fantastic addition to our squad.”
Head Coach Gareth Taylor continued: “Aoba brings even more excitement and technical quality to the team. She is still young but has already established herself on the international stage and we are delighted to bring her to our club.”
EXCITING TALENT
Aoba Fujino holds the distinction of being Japan’s youngest-ever World Cup scorer across both their men’s and women’s team.
The goal that saw her claim that impressive record, in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica, was the product of an outstanding piece of individual brilliance.
Chasing down a half-cleared cross to the right-hand touchline, a clever feint away from her marker saw Fujino bearing down on the Costa Rican goal.
The angle was tight, but she spotted a gap and rifled home Japan’s second of the evening at the near post.
Tenacity, a low centre of gravity, close control and a clever finish, it set the tone for a breakout 2023 World Cup tournament for Fujino, who was just 19 years and 180 days old at the time.
She could have broken the record in Japan’s opening game against Zambia when she hit the woodwork with a vicious drive from distance but would still have a huge say on proceedings when her pinpoint cross found Hinata Miyazawa for the game’s opening goal.
With another assist in the Round of 16 against Norway, Fujino was undoubtedly one of the tournament’s breakout stars, but she’d already been making her name for herself in her native Japan before then.
Indeed, the 20-year-old was twice a winner of the WE League Valuable Player Award in her three seasons at Tokyo Verdy Beleza, having also claimed the Empress Cup.
A starring role in the Under-20 World Cup, where Japan finished runners up in 2022, plus a spot in the WE League’s Best XI leading into that World Cup tournament meant that, while a relative unknown to most, Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda knew of Fujino’s capabilities.
Despite her diminutive stature, the forward knows how to keep hold of the ball, aided by tight control, clever movement and a sharp turn of speed over short distances.
In possession, as she demonstrated at the World Cup, Fujino is just as dangerous when feeding a team-mate or pulling the trigger herself, and her footballing intelligence means she is most likely a viable option to Gareth Taylor in several attacking positions.
She’s a player to get you off your seat, and one that seems perfectly suited to an exciting young City side in search of European and domestic honours.
HONOURS
Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Empress’ Cup: 2022
Individual
WE League Best XI: 2022/23
WE League Valuable Player Award: 2021/22, 2022/23
