Maika Hamano brings creativity and attacking threat to Spurs with loan move
Tottenham Hotspur Women are delighted to announce the signing of Maika Hamano, who joins the club on loan from Chelsea FC Women for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
The 21-year-old Japan international adds quality, versatility and attacking intelligence to Martin Ho’s squad as Spurs look to build on an impressive first half of the Barclays Women’s Super League campaign.
Speaking on her move, Hamano 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 demonstrate my bond with my teammates and bring thrilling play to the audience. Football is ultimately about winning, and I’ll try my hardest to help the team succeed.”
Head coach Martin Ho welcomed the forward to North London, highlighting the qualities she brings:
“We are happy to welcome Maika to Tottenham Hotspur. In the latter third, she is an offensive player with strong technical ability and intelligence, adding movement, inventiveness and composure. She provides us with greater depth and quality in our attacking options, and this loan represents a great opportunity for her to continue her development in a demanding environment.”
Hamano is a dynamic attacker capable of playing across the front line with Japan primarily, deploying her as a winger. Her ability to combine pace, creativity and positional awareness makes her a strong fit for Spurs’ attacking style.
She began her professional career at Carezo Osaka Sakai before joining INAC Kobe Leonessa at just 17 years old. During the 2021/22 season, she made her breakthrough, playing 16 league matches as INAC Kobe finished eight points clear at the top of the WE League. That same year, Hamano started at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, finishing second-highest scorer with four goals and one assist, earning both the Silver Boot and the Golden boot.
Her performances at youth level earned her a senior international debut for Japan in October 2022, and she has since represented her country at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, scoring as Japan went on to win the tournament.
Hamano joined Chelsea in January 2023 and gained valuable experience across domestic and European competitions. She spent part of the 2023/24 season on loan at Hammarby IF in Sweden, where she made twenty-two appearances across all competitions, scoring eleven goals and providing three assists before her season was cut short by injury.
After recovering, she made her WSL debut in December 2023 and scored her first league goal against Aston Villa in April 2024. Across her time at Chelsea, Hamano has made 45 appearances, including seven this season, scoring goals in the WSL and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Now joining Spurs alongside January additions Matilda Nildén, Hanna Wijk, Signe Gaupset and Julie Blakstad, Hamano arrives as Tottenham continue to push forward in a highly competitive WSL season. With the club currently sitting on twenty points, just two points behind third place, her arrival provides an exciting boost ahead of upcoming league and FA Cup fixtures. It must not be underestimated that Hamano joins Japanese teammate, Tõko Koga in Lilywhite, which is a partnership that could be unstoppable pushing through the channels.
Tottenham Hotspur Women look forward to working with Maika for the remainder of the campaign and welcoming her creativity, energy and attacking threat to the squad.