Chelsea FC v West Ham United FC – Barclays Women’s Super League
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – MARCH 30: Maika Hamano of Chelsea celebrates scoring her team’s first goal during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United FC at Kingsmeadow on March 30, 2025 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Maika Hamano has joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the season.
In quotes distributed to the media, she said: “Watching the team this season, I really felt they’ve been playing some great football and I thought if I joined this team, I could develop a lot as a player.
“I want to show fans the connection with my team-mates and exciting plays. At the end of the day, football is about winning and I’ll do my best to contribute to the team’s success.”
Tottenham head coach Martin Ho added: “We are pleased to welcome Maika to Tottenham Hotspur. Maika is a technically gifted and intelligent attacking player who brings creativity, movement and composure in the final third. She has experience at the highest level and will add quality and depth to our attacking options.
“This is a good opportunity for Maika to continue her development in a demanding environment, and we are looking forward to working with her for the remainder of the season.”
Maika Hamano: her career so far
The 21-year-old forward started her career at Cerezo Osaka Sakai before joining INAC Kobe Leonessa in 2021, aged 17. She featured in 16 league games as they finished eight points clear at the top of the WE League table.
She made seven appearances, scoring twice, the next season before joining Chelsea in January 2023.
She was immediately loaned to Swedish side Hammarby IF for that season, making 17 league appearances and scoring seven goals in the Damallsvenskan.
She finally made her Barclays Women’s Super League debut in a 3-0 win over Bristol City in December 2023, with her first WSL goal coming against Aston Villa in April 2024.
Hamano signed a contract extension with Chelsea earlier this season.
Internationally, she made her senior debut for Japan in October 2022, and was part of their squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She also helped them to win the SheBelieves Cup in 2025.