INAC Kobe Leonessa forward Mana Iwabuchi will join England¡¯s Aston Villa on a free transfer, The Japan Times has learned, making her the first Japanese player to enter the increasingly prominent Women¡¯s Super League in over six years.
The move, which is expected to be announced early next week, will see Iwabuchi sign a contract with the Birmingham-based side, which is playing its first season in the English women¡¯s top flight since 2004.
INAC announced Iwabuchi¡¯s departure from the club on Tuesday without confirming her destination. The club said she would participate in the remainder of the Empress¡¯s Cup, Japan¡¯s equivalent of the Women¡¯s F.A. Cup, which will hold its final on Dec. 29. Kobe will play Albirex Niigata Ladies in a Dec. 19 quarterfinal at Kanseki Stadium in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture.
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