On January 13, the now 19-year-old Japanese striker Maika Hamano penned until the summer of 2027 with Chelsea, but how has she done since her loan move?
Not only has Emma Hayes prioritized contemporary times, the Chelsea Women’s manager has her eyes on the future ahead. In the only new signing in January for the Blues, Hayes brought in Japanese international Maika Hamano from INAC Kobe Leonessa. The talented youngster immediately went out on loan to the Swedish top flight, the Damallsvenskan, in order to receive the minutes that the striker would not have been provided in the west Londoners’ first team this past season.
What Maika Hamano of Chelsea has been up to in Sweden
A star at the most recent FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Hamano is viewed as one of the best young strikers in women’s football. Once she joined Hammarby IF, Hamano made an instant impact despite her young age. It was her first real exposure of European women’s football, Japan’s current No. 23 has thrived, leading the side to their first piece of major silverware since 1995.
It was almost the perfect loan for a player like her who will be in Sweden mid-November when the Damallsvenskan concludes after the 26th matchday. Aniek Nouwen only received a few months in Italy, and while they were valuable, the Japanese forward has a whole campaign in Europe to develop her game.
In 12 contests so far for the Stockholm side, Hamano has led her side in goals in the league with six including back to back games in which she found the back of the net on multiple occasions. This past weekend, Hamano collected her first assist in the Swedish top-flight, finding fellow under-20 teammate Ellen Wangerheim for the third goal of the match. After 12 weeks of football, Hammarby is the highest scoring team in the league with 31 goals as Hamano sits top-10 in total goal contributions with seven.
Her adjustment has been seamless, converting chances in all sorts of ways. Despite being a natural forward, Hamano has played her part defensively and in the build up play for her side, finding those gaps in between the oppositions’ backline. For an attacking threat that has shown she can convert chances, her passing range and intelligence to find players in open space has been remarkable.
Arguably the best display came about a week ago on June 6 where Hamano played a part in all three goals in the Svenska Cupen final. She was the one how put the cherry on top of the display, sweetly slotting the third in final goal of the match to put BK Häcken to bed. The Japanese international would finish as the second-highest scorer in the cup competition with four, providing a vital threat up top as her team won the tournament for just the third time in their history, and first in 28 years. She looks to be in her element. Gliding around the pitch in a league that has produced some of the most talented footballers in the world today. Hamano returns to the pitch on Thursday, June 15 against 13th place IF Brommapojkarna in the league.
Congratulations to Maika Hamano on winning the Svenska Cupen with @HammarbyFotboll ! 🏅
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) June 6, 2023
Our loanee scored the third goal in the final. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Gz9poF6hVi
What has Chelsea’s Maika Hamano done on the international level since January?
The Japanese World Cup squad was just announced with the release coming just days after the WE League concluding this past weekend. Hamano will be the youngest player on the Japanese team in Australia and New Zealand, and one of four forwards for the No. 11 ranked team in the world right now according to FIFA. The 19-year-old is also the only listed forward that does not play her club football in Japan. In 2023, Hamano has played 75 minutes for the Japan senior national team, participating in two SheBelieves Cup contests against the United States, and Brazil.
Who knows how much of a role Hamano will play this summer on the national stage, but considering she has been part of the team on consecutive occasions, the former INAC Kobe Leonessa attacker will more than likely play a part in some way. Futoshi Ikeda’s side has a preparation friendly against Panama on July 14 in Sendai, Japan. Even with Hamano’s squad losing three out of the five matches since the turn of the calendar year, Japan has to be a threat to make some noise in a group in which they should make it out of. Keep an eye on the PoL page for more updates on the highly-rated CFCW loanee at the World Cup and in Sweden the rest of the season.