Bio
SAFE HANDS…
Ayaka Yamashita joined City in the summer of 2024 and arrived with a decorated CV to her name.
Across her illustrious career to date, the Japan international has a remarkable 17 medals across her career – including six Japanese top flight titles and eight further domestic cups.
What’s more, she been included in the Nadeshiko League’s Best XI in seven of the past nine years and was named the Player of the Season award at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
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.
This has made her an integral part of Japan’s squads at recent major competitions including the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Although they were knocked out in the quarter-finals at the latter, she played a huge part in helping her nation avoid conceding a single goal en route to the last-eight – including a strong 4-0 win over eventual champions Spain.
Yamashita is a serial winner, and is someone who will add important experience into an exciting young side looking to claim major honours in the years to come.
She will wear number 31 during her time at the Joie Stadium.
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