(Excerpt) Commented on are the transfer of Nadeshiko players to be noticed and the selection for the Asian Games squad.（抜粋和約）なでしこ選手の移籍およびアジア大会メンバー選出についてコメントしました。
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The female footballer transfer market has been active. There reported were several captivating transfers of Japanese players.
On the other hand, the blogger would also like to comment on the announcement of Nadeshiko Japan squad for the football competition at the 20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya 2026).
[1] Mao Itamura
A Japanese teenager who won the Player of the 2025/26 Season award in the Dutch league has taken her talents to the English WSL—widely considered the world’s premier league. Mao Itamura transferred from Feyenoord to Liverpool, with the transfer fee reportedly marking a record high in Feyenoord’s history. After struggling last season, can Liverpool have Itamura as the savior of Liverpool’s attack?
[2] Akane Okuma
Aston Villa has become the new club for the goalkeeper the blogger has been keeping a close eye on. While Akane Okuma has moved from a WE League team to a team that already boasts a rival goalkeeper of England national team caliber, the blogger believes that if communication hurdles can be overcome, there is a genuine possibility she could secure the starting role. He also looks forward to seeing her goalkeeping skills take a significant leap forward through English-style training.
[3] Rui Tachibana
The captain of last season’s Nadeshiko League champions has turned professional. Rui Tachibana, a standout player in the Nadeshiko League, has transferred to the WE League’s Nagano. Although Nagano finished a distant last place last season, Tachibana could possibly become the spark for their resurgence.
[4] Mayu Tsuneda
The heart and soul of the Nadeshiko League powerhouse Iga has transferred to the WE League’s Nagano. Mayu Tsuneda, now a professional soccer player, was an outstanding captain who led the Iga squad. She is expected to help propel Nagano up the standings through her partnership with Runa Shioya—a prolific scorer who also transferred from Yunogo.
[5] Nadeshiko League
Nagoya and Iga have both lost their outstanding key players. With these transfers involving core members, there are concerns about the second half of the league season—and the blogger finds himself unable to shake a nagging sense of worry.
[6] Nadeshiko Japan squad for the Asian Games
The squad seems to feature players who have excelled in the WE League and the Empress’s Cup. While there are some players the blogger is not familiar with, he looks forward to seeing all of them perform well.
The selection process likely balances two key objectives: relying on core players capable of leading the team to the championship, and scouting talent for the senior national team—specifically at side-back and goalkeeper.
The inclusion of six defenders suggests a potential three-back system; however, with three players who are clearly specialist side-backs, the blogger is concerned about a potential shortage of defensive personnel. He wonders if the additional call-up will be a center-back, or if the coaching staff envisions Takarada playing as a center-back capable of carrying the ball forward.
Conversely, the selection of three-and-a-half “center-forward” type players seems to reflect the coaching staff’s specific intentions.
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