Maika Hamano
is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chelsea and the Japan national team. Club career 
Hamano made her WE League debut for INAC Kobe Leonessa on 12 September 2021 in a 5–0 victory over Omiya Ardija Ventus. She signed for Chelsea on 13 January 2023, and was immediately loaned to Swedish side Hammarby IF for the 2023 season. International career 
In July 2022, Hamano was included in the Japan under-20 team for the 2022 U-20 World Cup, where the team finished as runners-up after losing to Spain in the final. She won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, and the Silver Boot as the second best goalscorer after Inma Gabarro. Hamano made her senior team debut on 6 October 2022, when she came on as a substitute for Mina Tanaka in the 69th minute of a 2–0 friendly win over Nigeria. On 13 June 2023, she was included in Japan's 23-player squad for the 2023 World Cup. Career statistics

Club

International

Honours 
INAC Kobe Leonessa
WE League: 2021–22

Hammarby IF
 Swedish Cup: 2022–23

Japan U16
AFC U-16 Women's Championship: 2019

Individual
AFC U-16 Women's Championship Top scorer: 2019
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2022
AFC Youth Player of the Year: 2022

References 

2004 births
Living people
People from Takaishi, Osaka
Association football people from Osaka Prefecture
Japanese women's footballers
Women's association football forwards
Japan women's international footballers
Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies players
INAC Kobe Leonessa players
Chelsea F.C. Women players
Hammarby Fotboll (women) players
Nadeshiko League players
WE League players
Damallsvenskan players

Japanese expatriate women's footballers
Japanese expatriate sportspeople in England
Expatriate women's footballers in England
Japanese expatriate sportspeople in Sweden
Expatriate women's footballers in Sweden
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players