More Than The Score - Why are Women's Super League clubs signing Japan's best talent?

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There are more Japanese players in the Women's Super League than ever before so why is England's top flight signing up the best that Japan has to offer? Japan's assistant coach, Leah Blayney, says the technical ability of the likes of Manchester City's Yui Hasegawa and Hinata Miyazawa of Manchester United make them attractive to clubs.

BBC Sport women’s football news reporter, Emma Sanders, tells Maz Farookhi that investment in the women's game means more resources for expert analysts and scouting networks while, Japanese football expert, Dan Orlowitz, says the WE League - established in the 2021–22 season as Japan's first fully professional women's football league - has played a big part in the players we see in England today.

Published on Thursday, 16th October 2025.

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